description Mauyak Overview
Mauyak is a beluga whale associated with the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. She became notable within the aquarium's beluga program for giving birth to multiple calves in captivity. Beluga whales are small toothed whales from Arctic and sub-Arctic waters, recognized by their white adult coloration, rounded forehead, and flexible neck. Aquarium breeding programs use managed populations to study and maintain the species in human care.
help Mauyak FAQ
Where did Mauyak live?
Mauyak was a female beluga whale associated with Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. She arrived there from Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma in 1997 as part of a North American beluga breeding program.
How many calves did Mauyak have at Shedd Aquarium?
Mauyak gave birth to Kimalu in 2012 and to another calf on July 3, 2019. The 2019 calf was later named Annik, and Shedd recorded the delivery as taking 33 minutes.
What does Mauyak's name mean?
Shedd Aquarium explained that Mauyak means soft snow in an Inuit language. She was born in 1981 and died in 2022 at the age of 41.
Why was Mauyak important to beluga research?
Shedd used observations from Mauyak's pregnancies and births to study beluga development and newborn care. Measurements of her growth also contributed to photogrammetry research, which helps field scientists identify pregnant whales.
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