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2nd baby beluga born at Chicago aquarium in a week
[December 22, 2009] CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has welcomed a new baby beluga whale for the second time in a week.
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The aquarium announced Monday that beluga whale Naya (NY'-ah) gave birth Sunday afternoon to a 5-foot, 6-inch male calf that weighs 152 pounds. Beluga whale Puiji (poo-EE-jee) had given birth to a male baby last week that weighed in at 162 pounds and was 5 feet, 4 inches long. Shedd senior vice president Ken Ramirez says Naya needed some assistance during her birth. He says the newborn and his mother were briefly separated for observation but are now reunited. He says the Shedd remains "cautiously optimistic" as officials watch for the pair to bond and nurse. The calf's father is Naluark, who also sired the baby born to Puiji last week. |
