Kilt
Beluga
Adopted by Hydro-Québec
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ID number
DL0012
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Sex
Unknown
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Year of birth
Around 1970
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Known Since
1986
Distinctive traits
A very large, deep scar runs down Kilt’s back, just behind the head. On his right flank, behind the crest, there are also a few small scars.
Life history
Kilt was first photographed in 1986. It was gray, so would have been born around the 1970s.
Because of its large size, habits and social affiliations, we assume that Kilt is a male. However, the data we have collected so far do not allow us to know its summer range. In adulthood, there is a strong segregation between males and females. Females live in communities with their young, while males are often found in single-sex herds.
During one of our first encounters, on August 7, 1987, Kilt, then a young beluga whale, accompanied by another youngster, approached and circled the team’s boat for over 30 minutes. The curiosity shown by belugas in the presence of boats increases their vulnerability. Several belugas in the estuary, including Kilt, show injuries and scars that may have been caused by a collision with a ship.
Observations history in the Estuary
Years in which the animal was not observed Years in which the animal was observed
Latest news
Kilt was last seen over a decade ago. He was swimming with three other belugas, two adults and a calf, in a group of ten in the Saint-Siméon area of Charlevoix. What has happened to him since? Has he died? Has he remained invisible to researchers all this time? One thing’s for sure, his story remains a valuable source of information, helping us to better understand this fragile population.
Sponsor
Hydro-Québec adopted Kilt (1990).