Viral Video - There is a new addition to the Georgia Aquarium, and she's a baby girl. A beluga whale named Maris gave birth to the calf in her tank at 1:25 a.m. on May 10.
Maris, 20, labored for three hours before giving birth to her newborn, after which she helped her baby girl rise to the surface to take her first breath, according to a video released by the Georgia Aquarium.
Volunteers have been on 24-hour watch in the past two weeks watching for signs of delivery from Maris, whilst also keeping an eye on her health.
She remains under the watchful eyes of experts even after birth.
Weighing in at 126.5 pounds and at 59 inches long, the baby beluga is smaller than those born in the wild. Beluga calves weigh about 176 pounds in the wild, but in the ocean, they tend to range between 119-140 pounds, according to SeaWorld experts.
Beluga calf births in captivity are rare. Maris' last calf which was born in 2012 died less than a week after birth.
"While there are many milestones within the first year that this baby beluga girl must surpass to ensure its survival, the team is hopeful for a successful outcome," the aquarium wrote in its statement.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
