DL0014

Beluga

ligne décoration

Adopted by Marell Foundation, Florida

  • ID number

    DL0014

  • Sex

    Male

  • Year of birth

    Before 1977

  • Known Since

    1989

Distinctive traits

DL0014’s dorsal crest distinguishes it from the others, with the long, deep plateau in the posterior part and this notch in the anterior part of its crest. An additional small notch appears in 2002.

Life history

DL0014 was first observed in 1989. His “dress” was already immaculate white. He was therefore born before 1977.

His large size, habits and social affiliations clearly indicate that DL0014 is a male. On September 17, 1995, a biopsy confirmed this. DL0014 is a regular sighting in the Saguenay Fjord. He is part of one of the Saguenay’s two male networks.

Belugas are gregarious animals, living in pairs and groups of 3 to several dozen individuals or clans. In summer, males live separately from females. Over the years, males tend to form stable bands of companions. These associations gradually become established and may play a role in the belugas’ reproductive life. DL0014 is often seen in the company of Frimas, Stanley and Camério. The story of DL0014 and his companions will tell us a great deal about the evolution of the beluga’s social life.

Observations history in the Estuary

1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017

Years in which the animal was not observed Years in which the animal was observed

Latest news

We recognize DL0014, in a herd of some sixty belugas in the Saguenay fjord. Most of the animals are white adults, but we also spot juveniles, including three newborns. The animals are heading for Sainte-Marguerite Bay. We’re in the middle of a sampling campaign for our St. Lawrence beluga biopsy program. We’ve been very productive this morning : we’re already up to seven biopsies! These little carrots of fat will enable us to obtain information on the animals’ hormone levels, and thus give us an idea of the proportion of pregnant female belugas in the St. Lawrence population.

We observed DL0014 in a herd of around 30 belugas on September 26, 2012, in the Île Verte area off the municipality of Cacouna. The herd included adults, young gray whales and at least one newborn calf. The herd is mixed, with large males and smaller, plumper females. The animals swim in the agitated waters of a current bar, which is also home to some twenty grey seals.

Sponsor

Marell Foundation, Florida adopted DL0014 (1998).