Douxi
Beluga
Adopted by Montreal 2005 — XI World Aquatics Championship
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ID number
DL0703
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Sex
Male
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Year of birth
Around 1987
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Known Since
1990
Distinctive traits
The extensive, irregularly contoured scar on the left peduncle makes Douxi easily recognizable. On his right flank, still on the peduncle, is a gray patch and a series of small scars.
Life history
We first met Douxi in the summer of 1990. At the time, he was a juvenile beluga. He has always been noted as “white” since 2003. He was born around 1987.
A biopsy revealed that Douxi is male. He is regularly seen at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord in large herds of males.
Our first encounter with Douxi was in 1990, when he was a young beluga. Young belugas don’t seem to favor one area more than another, or one group more than another. However, as adults, we observe sexual segregation in summer. Thus, the “lower” herds, more in the Lower Estuary, are composed mainly of males, while the “upper” herds, in the Upper Estuary, are composed mainly of females and juveniles. Both types of herd are found in the Saguenay.
Observations history in the Estuary
Years in which the animal was not observed Years in which the animal was observed
Latest news
Douxi is part of a herd of around 30 belugas. He is located near Sainte-Marguerite Bay in the Saguenay Fjord. In this herd, there are a few groups of four to five belugas, but the majority of individuals are in groups of two : one white and one gray. There is a high percentage of gray calves and two newborns. One of the newborns swims alongside Vita, a large male who is part of one of the Saguenay’s two male networks. A large male can measure around 4 m, while a newborn will be around 1.5 m long. A light rain begins to fall, so we take a break to protect our cameras, but we continue to follow this herd, because as soon as the downpour ends, we’ll be back at work.
Sponsor
Montreal 2005 — XI World Aquatics Championship adopted Douxi (2004).