Research Document 2020/006

Translocation of live-stranded newborn St. Lawrence Estuary belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) for adoption by nearby females: a review of past responses, and assessment of feasibility and risks

By Michaud, R., Giard, J., Michaud, A., and Moison, M

Abstract

Over the 35 years of the SLE beluga carcass recovery program (1983–2017), 97 neonates were reported stranded, of which 13 were found alive. In all cases, the calves were estimated to be a few days or weeks old. Responses varied from letting nature follow its course to transportation to aquariums for rehabilitation to euthanasia. In three cases, the stranded calves were transported and relocated into nearby herds of female and young belugas, in the hope they would be reunited with their mother or they would be adopted. While all three calves survived their translocations, post-release visual tracking did not exceed 8 hours, preventing the fate of the calves to be determined. A review of the literature on adoption in odontocetes in the wild and odontocetes under human care indicates that, as with other taxa, adoption is possible but appears to be uncommon. While adoption of an unweaned odontocete calf has been observed in the wild, none involved newborn calves, i.e., animals in their first year of life. Successful adoption of newborn odontocete calves under human care has so far only occurred with non-pregnant and non-lactating females following induced lactation. In these cases, calves were temporarily fed via a tube until the fostering female's milk was rich enough. In the wild, an abandoned newborn calf will have died before a non-pregnant and non-lactating adopter can start producing milk. The only chance for a translocated live-stranded newborn calf to survive would be for the animal to be adopted by a female that has lost her calf. The number of females in that situation and in good enough condition to proceed with lactation following the loss of their calf, is likely to be limited.

Research Document 2020/006 (PDF, 540 KB)

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