Birthdate: 1988
Captured: August 15th 1990
Arrived to Vancouver Aquarium: August 15th 1990
Relatives: the son Tuvaq (deceased), the daughters Qila and Nala (deceased) and the granddaughter Tiqa
Aurora
was born in 1988 and was captured when she was about two years old, on August
15th 1990. The same years as she was captured Aurora arrived at
Vancouver Aquarium where she has lived since then. When Aurora was only 7 years
old she gave birth to her first calf. The calf was the first beluga to be born
at Vancouver Aquarium apart from Tuaq which mother was pregnant when she arrived
at Vancouver Aquarium. Aurora’s little female calf was named Qila. Seven years
later, in July 2002, Aurora gave birth to her second calf. This calf was a male
and was named Tuvaq. Three years later Tuvaq unfortunately passed away.
In June 2008 Aurora’s daughter Qila gave birth to her first calf named Tiqa. Aurora and Qila had a while before the birth been separated from Vancouver Aquarium’s two other belugas Imaq and Kavna that had been moved to another centre at Vancouver Aquarium. During Tiqa’s birth Aurora and Qila were not in the same pool but a while after the birth Aurora was introduced to her little granddaughter. Only three days before Tiqa’s first birthday Aurora gave birth to her third calf. During the birth Qila and Tiqa were in a pool beside the one that Aurora was in but already the day after the birth they were introduced to Aurora’s calf. In mid-June 2010 Aurora's youngest calf Nala became ill and even though she was treated by veterinarians she unfortunately passed away on June 21st 2010.
Today
Aurora lives together with her daughter Qila and her granddaughter Tiqa in Vancouver Aquarium’s beluga centre. She is the dominant female
in Vancouver Aquarium’s beluga group. Aurora measures 3,4 meters and weighs 800
kilograms (weight and length 2009). Each day she eats 11 kilograms of fish
(according to information from 2005).