Babalou

Beluga

ligne décoration

Adopted by The Glen and Carmel Mitchell Foundation

  • ID number

    DL0198

  • Sex

    Male

  • Year of birth

    Before 1978

  • Known Since

    1990

Distinctive traits

In Babalou’s dorsal ridge, there are six notches of varying depth. In addition to this highly detailed ridge, Babalou has a small scar on its right front flank.

Life history

We first met Babalou in 1990. He was completely white at the time. Babalou would therefore have been born before 1978.

Babalou’s sex was confirmed by genetic analysis of a biopsy: he is a male. He has regularly been observed in large, dynamic aggregations with a majority of males. Babalou is believed to be a member of one of the two male networks in the Saguenay.

On September 13, 2005, Babalou is swimming in the Escoumins area. He was among an aggregation of some fifteen belugas. The aggregation is mainly made up of adults, but there are also a few pale grey juveniles. The group is difficult to follow, with individuals constantly breaking up into smaller groups and then merging into a single super-group. However, through the aggregation we recognize Frimas, Yorkie and Dance-Sea.

Observations history in the Estuary

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

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

Latest news

We haven’t seen Babalou since 2005. Is he dead? Has he remained invisible to researchers all this time? One thing is certain, his story remains a valuable source of information for our knowledge of this fragile population.

Sponsor

The Glen and Carmel Mitchell Foundation adopted Babalou (2000).