Stranded beluga will remain in captivity

  • By KAT SORENSEN
  • Sunday, January 21, 2018 10:08am
  • News
Volunteers at the Alaska SeaLife Center feed a milk and electrolyte mix to a beluga calf, rescued on Sept. 30 after being stranded in Trading Bay, by holding a tube to its lips (a method they’ve found works better than bottle-feeding) on Friday, Oct. 6 in Seward, Alaska. The calf is the first Cook Inlet beluga under human care. Activities in this picture have been authorized by NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program under the Marine Mammal Protection Act/Endangered Species Act

Volunteers at the Alaska SeaLife Center feed a milk and electrolyte mix to a beluga calf, rescued on Sept. 30 after being stranded in Trading Bay, by holding a tube to its lips (a method they’ve found works better than bottle-feeding) on Friday, Oct. 6 in Seward, Alaska. The calf is the first Cook Inlet beluga under human care. Activities in this picture have been authorized by NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program under the Marine Mammal Protection Act/Endangered Species Act

Tyonek, a Cook Inlet beluga that has been under 24/7 care from experts at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, will not be released back into the wild, according to NOAA Fisheries.

NOAA has determined that the male beluga whale calf, which was found stranded on the Cook Inlet mud flats in September 2017, is not capable of surviving on his own, according to a release.

According to experts from NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Repsonse Program, the calf less than one month old when he was stranded.

“He is nutritionally and socially dependent, lacks both survival and socialization skills needed to be successful on his own in the wild, and it is likely his mother either abandoned him or died,” the release said. “The calf also experienced a collapsed lung—a condition which may recur and compromise survivability in the wild by limiting his ability to dive.”

The calf has been under constant care at the Alaska SeaLife Center for over three months with the help of partner aquariums, including the Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium of Connecticut, SeaWorld, Shedd Aquarium and Vancouver Aquarium.

“Tyonek has pulled through to become the first rescued Cook Inlet beluga calf to survive,” said NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Chris Oliver. “Although he cannot be released into the wild, he will continue to receive the care needed to thrive, and help us learn more about this iconic species.”

A decision will be made about Tyonek’s placement over the course of the next few weeks, according to the release.

“Once that decision is made, NOAA will work with the recipeient facility to expedite the calf’s transportation and transition so that he can be integrated into a social group where he can thrive with other whales,” the release said.

In 2012, a newborn beluga whale found in Bristol Bay died at the SeaLife Center about a month after it’s rescue.

NOAA scientists estimate the the population for Cook Inlet beluga whales is most likely around 328 animals.

Reach Kat Sorensen at kat.sorensen@peninsulaclarion.com

More in News

A woman stands with her sign held up during a rally in support of Medicaid and South Peninsula Hospital on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer residents rally in support of South Peninsula Hospital and Medicaid

The community gathered on Wednesday in opposition to health care cuts that threaten rural hospitals.

Hunter Kirby holds up the hatchery king salmon he bagged during the one-day youth fishery on the Ninilchik River on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 in Ninilchik, Alaska. Photo by Mike Booz
Ninilchik River closed to sport fishing

The closure is in effect from June 23 through July 15.

Señor Panchos in Soldotna, Alaska, is closed on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna restaurant owner remains in ICE custody; federal charges dropped

Francisco Rodriguez-Rincon was accused of being in the country illegally and falsely claiming citizenship on a driver’s license application.

Brent Johnson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough to provide maximum funding for school district

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will receive less money from the state this year than it did last year.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Pool manager and swim coach Will Hubler leads a treading water exercise at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday.
Pools, theaters, libraries in jeopardy as cuts loom

The district issued “notices of non-retention” to all its pool managers, library aides and theater technicians.

A sockeye salmon is pictured in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Fishing slow on Russian River, improving on Kenai

Northern Kenai fishing report for Tuesday, June 17.

Josiah Kelly, right, appears for a superior court arraignment at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchor Point man accepts plea deal for November shootings

Buildings operated by a local health clinic and an addiction recovery nonprofit were targeted.

A demonstrator holds up a sign during the “No Kings” protest on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer hits the streets to say ‘No Kings’

Around 700 gathered locally as part of a nationwide protest.

Brooklyn Coleman, right, staffs The Squeeze Squad lemonade stand during Lemonade Day in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kids learn business skills at annual Lemonade Day

Around 40 stands were strewn around Soldotna, Kenai, Nikiski and Sterling for the event.

Most Read