Yogi

Beluga

ligne décoration

Adopted by Bell Canada

  • ID number

    DL0021

  • Sex

    Female

  • Year of birth

    Before 1970

  • Known Since

    1986

Distinctive traits

Yogi owes her name to the deep bear-print scar on her left peduncle. She also has a deep scar on her right side, in the middle of her flank, and her crest also bears some markings.

Life history

We first met Yogi in the summer of 1986. She was already white, so would have been born before 1970.

Yogi is a female. Her sex was confirmed by a biopsy, the genetic analysis of a tiny piece of skin and fat taken from her back. She is part of the Saguenay Fjord community of females.

Yogi has been observed on several occasions with calves. GREMM researchers have taken biopsies from calves accompanying well-known females in an attempt to identify the father. Of course, the father’s DNA must also be in the database. Yogi and one of her youngsters, nicknamed Boubou, were the first to contribute to this filiation search.

Observations history in the Estuary

1986
1987
1988
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
2018
2019
2020

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

Latest news

On the afternoon of October 5, we set off along the Saguenay to meet the belugas. We come across a herd of eight belugas, made up of adults and juveniles. The animals are swimming in all directions, which leads us to believe that they are feeding. We hope it’s going to be a productive hunting session, as one of the adult belugas looks quite skinny. He’s swimming with a younger animal, and they’re making good progress upstream. We soon lose sight of him.

Further on, we observe Yogi, who, true to form, is swimming alone. We’re delighted to see her, as last year she looked skinny, but this time she’s looking good. A few minutes later, to our surprise, Yogi is joined by two adults and three youngsters. Belugas never cease to amaze!

We’re back in the Saguenay Fjord to continue our research project on communication between mothers and newborns. We come across a herd just above the ferries. Among the fifteen or so individuals present, we recognize Yogi. As usual, she swims slightly behind the herd of adults and young. She looks less skinny than last year.

The weather conditions allow us to use our drone. Among other things, this new technology enables us to estimate the composition of groups and the age of youngsters with great precision. At the same time, we “spy” on the animals underwater with our hydrophone to pick up calls between mothers and young. Perhaps we recorded Yogi’s voice that day…

We decide to explore the Saguenay Fjord. Near Anse à la Boule, we come across a dozen animals, adults, youngsters and a calf. From the large scar on her left flank, we easily recognize Yogi, who is swimming among the herd. They are all widely scattered, making it difficult for us to attempt biopsies and take photos. After several attempts, we decide to leave the herd. They were swimming towards Sainte-Marguerite Bay, which is often the final destination of herds travelling up the Saguenay Fjord.

To this day, we still don’t know why belugas are particularly fond of this bay. When they reach the bay, they sometimes stay there for several hours, circling. Socializing behaviors are often observed, and their “voices” are regularly heard, both above and below the water!

 

We find Yogi in a herd of some twenty belugas, adults, calves and three newborns. We’re right in the middle of the female biopsy project. We attempt a biopsy on Yogi, but the stinger falls off first, and we miss. We’re luckier with Céline, and the biopsy is successful.

Sponsor

Bell Canada adopted Yogi (1988).