Bleuoutremer
Beluga
Adopted by Bleuoutremer
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ID number
DL1688
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Sex
Female
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Year of birth
Before 1984
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Known Since
2000
Distinctive traits
DL1688 can be recognized by the deep, arrowhead-shaped scar on her left peduncle.
Life history
I first met DL1688 in 2000. She was already white. We cannot determine her exact age. Beluga whales change color from gray to white between the ages of 12 and 16. We can therefore confirm that DL1688 was born before 1984.
DL1688’s small size and the company she keeps lead us to believe that she is female. In the summer range, females form large communities in which they look after newborns and young. These communities are attached to traditional territories and there is little exchange between them.
DL1688 belongs to the Saguenay community. She has been observed with other known females such as DL2273, DL0553, Pascolio and Marjo. DL1688 is regularly observed in groups including newborns. In 2004, she was observed with a calf that appeared to be her own.
Following her story will help us to better understand the social and reproductive life of belugas. By understanding how belugas live, we can better protect them.
Observations history in the Estuary
Years in which the animal was not observed Years in which the animal was observed
Latest news
We’re on our way to the lighthouse at Cap de la Tête-au-Chien aboard the BpJAM, our inflatable research vessel. It’s early afternoon and conditions are favourable, with light wind and good visibility. We spot a small herd of 4 or 5 individuals, take a few photos and then spot another group, this one numbering nearly a dozen animals. Half the belugas still have grey skin, an indication that they are relatively young. Two large females are swimming among them: Bleuoutremer and Nomi. The wind begins to pick up. We photograph a few more belugas. By around 2:30, the waves become more intense. After we’ve had enough of being rocked about in our small boat, we decide to return to our home port of Tadoussac.
We are near the north shore in the middle estuary between Baie-Saint-Paul and Tadoussac. Visibility is perfect. We recognize DL1688 among a herd of about ten individuals, adults and young. They are all close to the coast and are swimming in single file towards the upper St. Lawrence. At the end of the line, we recognize Pascolio, a matriarch from our photo-identification program. After an hour of observation, other animals join our herd to form a larger herd of about 20 animals.
Sponsors
Bleuoutremer adopted DL1688 and named her Bleuoutremer.