Nanuq another Seaworld shame. Beluga programme needs to end!

The Province along with many other press outlets reported the death of Nanuq this week

..VANCOUVER — A beluga whale from the Vancouver Aquarium that had been living at a SeaWorld in Florida has died.
Orlando SeaWorld posted a statement on its Facebook page Friday confirming the death of Nanuq, a male beluga estimated to be around 31 or 32 years old.
SeaWorld says Nanuq was being treated by veterinarians for an infection associated with a fractured jaw, an injury that resulted from an “interaction between two animals that were part of a compatible social group.”
The cause of death is not yet known, and a post-mortem examination has been scheduled, although results are not expected for six to eight weeks.
The Vancouver Aquarium says Nanuq was transferred to Orlando in 1997, as part of a co-operative program to manage the genetic diversity of belugas in human care.
He has had five transfers between various SeaWorld facilities, with the most recent occurring in 2014 when he was moved from San Diego to Orlando.
The aquarium says that in 1995 Nanuq sired a female beluga named Qila, who continues to live at the
Vancouver Aquarium, and staff are deeply saddened by the death.''

Lets take a look at the life Nanuq has had in human care and at the 'compatible social group'. 

Nanuq was captured in Manitoba on the 12th August 1990, along with Imaq who also belongs to Van Aqua but now lives at Seaworld. He was transported to Van Aqua on the 15th August and was put to work in the breeding programme, he currently has Qila who was born on 23rd July 1995 and is still housed at Van Aqua.

In the meantime Seaworld's beluga calves were dying.

Snow White, captured 1968 death unknown

Too too, captured Sept 1972, was placed in the Gillis family pool, transported again to Seaworld Ohio, transported again in the same month to Seaworld California and died en route.

x, transported to Seaworld California 15th July 1973 died 9th November 1973 (4 months at SW)

Edwina, captured 1973, transported to Seaworld 15th July 1973 died 16th July 1979 (6 years at SW)

 Belinda, captured 1973, transported to Seaworld California 15th July 1973, died 25th April 1975 at Seaworld Ohio (2 years at SW)

 Kojak, captured 15th July 1975, transferred to New York Aquarium 22nd July 1975, transferred to SW California 25th Feb 1976, died 27th Nov 1976 (9 months at SW)

Muk Tuk, captured 1977, transferred 1st August 1977 to US Navy, transfer SW California 7th Feb 2001, died 18th Jan 2007 (6 years at SW)

 Nukilik,  captured 31 July 1977, transported to Minnesota Zoo 22nd July 1975, transferred to SW California 26th April 1987, dead 16th July 1990 (3 years at SW)

Anana, captured 11th August 1977, transported to Minnesota Zoo 16th August 1977 transported to SW California April 1987, dead 12th June 1989 (2 years at SW)

Shadow, captured July 1979 transported to SW California 24th July 1979 dead 20th August 1981 (2 years at SW)

Casper, transported to SW 24th July 1979, died whilst pregnant 20th August 1987 (8 years at SW)

Snoopy  captured and sent to SW California 24th July 1979 died 20th Jan 1981 (2 years at SW)

Belinda's calf born on 7th May died on 11th May 1984 (4 days)

Martha's calf born on 17th September 1993 and died on 14th November 1993 (2 months)

Spooky's calf was stillborn on 17th September 1993

Kia's calf was born on 25th September 1993 and died on 15th Feb 1995 (18 months)

Nanuq arrives at Seaworld California 27th July 1997 but the deaths continue.

Up to this point no calves had survived at Seaworld

This was what his life at Seaworld was all about, much the same as Tilikum's. A viable bull, even if like in this video he didn't want to be one.

 Nanuq arrived at San Diego in 1997, he was moved around the parks going to San Antonio in 2005 and back again to San Diego. As you can see from the video here, Seaworld says he has to establish himself as the top bull with 10 year old Aurek, which is a direct contradiction to the statement given to the press  ''two animals that were part of a compatible social group''!!

And yet the babies continue dying, including 5 of Nanuq's own calves.

Olivia born SW Texas 19th June 1998 father unknown died 20th April 2005 (aged 7)

Hudnall born SW Florida 27 June 1999 died 4th October 2003 (aged 4)

Martha's calf born and died 2000

Kia's calf was still a fetus found when doing her necropsy

Whisper was just 7 years old when she had a stillborn calf to Nanuq 

Sikku was just 9 when her calf died also fathered by Nanuq

Ruby was 28 years old when she was AI's with Nanuq's sperm her baby was born on 28th May 2008 and died on the 18th June 2008 (1 month)

Whisper now aged 9 was AI'd with Nanuq's sperm on 27th July 2008 she had twins both died within a month

Ruby now 32 had a stillborn in July 2012 also to Nanuq 

Of those calves Nanuq still has living - 
Atla was born at San Diego to Luna she was AI'd aged 10, Luna still lives in Texas and her baby Atla was move to San Diego aged 4.

Ruby was 30 when she had Pearl  on 23rd June 2010 Ruby died on 3rd July 2014 leaving Pearl behind.

Oliver - born to Martina in San Antonio on 23rd June 2007.  Martina died in January 2009

Crissy was AI'd aged 11 with Nanuq's sperm producing Bella on 12th June 2009 both are still alive
 

 The tanks at Seaworld parks now contain
Seaworld San Diego - of 24 Belugas they now have only 6 remaining. 2 were wild caught and 3 babies

Seaworld Orlando

Have Whisper who sadly lost 2 of Nanuq's babies being pregnant at 7 and again by AI at 9.

They also have Klondike who was taken from his mother at Marineland Canada aged 4, Aurek who was taken the same way aged 3 and Maple who was also taken the same way aged 3. They had only Whisper left after 3 deaths which is probably why they acquired more.

 

 Seaworld San Antonio
 San Antonio had 28 Belugas, they have 10 left.

The Beluga breeding programme at Seaworld is shocking, of all the Belugas that have lived and died in the park only 9 babies have survived and they have held Belugas since 1975, 40 years to produce 9 living babies at the expense of all those dead.

Its not just Seaworld it is the captive Beluga population in the USA that speaks volumes for them NOT being in captivity. All the parks stick together as we saw in the Beluga Importation from Russia, that were going directly to Seaworld and Shedd  and no where near Georgia Aquarium. They also swap and change their Belugas as we can see with the residents in Georgia Aquariums's tanks now.

Mystic Aquarium has 3 living and 8 dead 2 of which were wild caught and Juno who arrived from Marineland Canada via Sea World Florida.

Georgia Aquarium have 4 living who all belong to Seaworld the last 2 being only 2 and 3 years old.

Shedd Aquarium  have 7 living and 9 are dead.

Vancouver Aquarium have the only other mother and calf belonging to Nanuq, they have 12 dead.

We all know Marineland Canada also has Belugas which they import from Russia

They currently hold 45 Belugas, 20 have been born there and 25 are Russian importations. They have 25 dead. Mystic have 1 of their Belugas and Seaworld have 3, they were born at the park but as in the transfer of Kiara the dolphin from Japan, Seaworld know the parents are Russian imports, just as they know Kiara's parents are drive hunt dolphins.

Where ever there is a loophole these people will exploit it and the above figures show there is very clear evidence that Belugas ARE NOT THRIVING IN CAPTIVITY, and it needs to come to an end.