Eldy
Beluga
Adopted by Road Scholar (previously Tadoussac Elderhostel) - Benny Beattie
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ID number
DL0153
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Sex
Male
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Year of birth
Before 1978
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Known Since
1990
Distinctive traits
Eldy has no distinctive markings on his flanks. You need to look carefully at any irregularities in his dorsal crest to identify him.
Life history
When we first met in 1990, Eldy was already all white. He would have been born before 1979.
A biopsy confirms that Eldy is a male. He is a member of one of the two male networks in and around the Saguenay.
Eldy is one of the belugas frequently seen in the Saguenay fjord. Groups of belugas often “ascend” the fjord on a rising tide and, conversely, head for the mouth on a falling tide. They use the currents to move around and save energy. Although belugas have the right physique (hydrodynamic body, powerful tail, smooth skin and stabilizing pectoral fins) to move easily through the water, they remain, at 7 km/h, the slowest of the odontocetes.
Observations history in the Estuary
Years in which the animal was not observed Years in which the animal was observed
Latest news
Around midday, we decide to cruise the Saguenay Fjord.
Near Anse aux Fesses, we come across a herd of around 40 belugas. Among this group of adults, juveniles and a newborn calf, we observe a large male, Eldy.
At the start of our contact, the herd is moving upstream, but suddenly the animals become very dynamic and their behavior leads us to believe that they are hunting. In fact, we observe a few of them spitting water. Could they have failed in their capture attempt?
Eldy’s last sighting was ten years ago. What happened to him? Is he dead? Has he remained invisible to the eye of the researcher? Impossible to know at the moment. One thing is certain : his story is a valuable source of information for our knowledge of this fragile population.
Sponsor
Road Scholar (previously Tadoussac Elderhostel) – Benny Beattie adopted Eldy (2000), Canusa (2001), Tadou (2004), Amalena (2014) and Nomi (2015).
I’ve been coming to Tadoussac since I was 8 months old (i.e., since 1938), and me, my wife, my daughters, my son-in-law and my grandchildren adore this country. We were brought up with whales, and belugas in particular.
The participants in my Elderhostel groups were also touched by these wonderful whales, so we decided to participate in their protection and preservation by contributing funds to the adoption program. I’ve also decided to personally “match” the donations that are made.
To find out more about Tadoussac Elderhostel, please visit Tadalac.com.
Thank you for your support,
Benny Beattie