Well-known beluga dies

Network volunteers and GREMM research assistants travelled to Baie-Sainte-Catherine to secure the carcass and ensure that data were collected before sending the carcass to the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (in French), where it would undergo a necropsy. A mark on the beluga’s right flank and its deeply contoured dorsal crest draws their attention. A shiver runs down their spine, as they realize they will surely be able to identify this beluga. Back in the lab, the animal’s ID is confirmed.

According to preliminary results of the veterinary teams of the Université de Montréal, no cause of death could be determined at the time of analysis. More in-depth studies will help us determine how old this beluga is and whether or not she ever gave birth to any calves. Indeed, despite hundreds of encounters with her, the life of Athéna still holds many mysteries. It is therefore important to wait for the complete results before drawing any conclusions on this case.

While Athéna was on her way to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Network received a second report for a beluga calf carcass near the docks of Rivière-Ouelle in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The witnesses, who were well aware of the protocol, brought the carcass over the tide line while waiting for a Network volunteer to arrive at the scene to document the situation and secure the carcass. Unfortunately, the beluga was in an advanced stage of decomposition and was therefore not a candidate for necropsy. However, samples (skin, fat, muscle and liver) were recovered by SLNIE on Tuesday morning. The environmental emergency service Urgence-Environnement (website in French), which is responsible for recovering harmful carcasses, has been notified and is expected to pick up the animal shortly.

These two new cases bring to 9 the number of beluga carcasses found this year.