ATLANTA (AP) - A beluga whale at the Georgia Aquarium has given birth to a baby.
Multiple news outlets reports Maris, a 20-year-old who has been at the aquarium since 2005, gave birth to a 126-pound female Sunday. The birth of a baby beluga in captivity is rare. Aquarium officials believe the new baby may be the first surviving calf born to parents who were born in captivity.
The new baby isn't the first for Maris. In 2012, she delivered a female calf, but the newborn only survived a few days.
To allow the staff to focus on Maris and her calf, the beluga exhibit will be temporarily closed until further notice. In a few weeks, the aquarium plans to host a competition to help pick the baby whale's name.
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5/12/2015 4:03:59 AM (GMT -4:00)
