Mystic Aquarium raises $3.4M for endangered belugas

MYSTIC — A Connecticut aquarium raised more than $3.4 million to care for its seven beluga whales and save other whales across the globe.

The money will fund care for the aquarium’s seven belugas, including Juno, Natasha, Kela and four other whales that were imported from Canada by the Sea Research Foundation in June 2021, according to the aquarium’s website.

The funds will also go toward a conservation research initiative to save endangered belugas and other whales, according to the aquarium.

More than 200 online bidders and attendees of a live auction Thursday raised the money to help the beluga whales. One of the hot ticket items was naming rights for one of the aquarium’s new beluga whales, a statement from the aquarium said.

Steve Coan, the president and CEO of Mystic Aquarium, said the community is “overwhelmed by the generosity.”

“We extend our deepest thanks to the many donors who came forward and made major financial contributions to ensure we can continue this vital research,” Coan added.

The whales costs the aquarium millions of dollars annually. Food and veterinary care alone costs about $250,000 per whale.

The beluga whales live in a 750,000-gallon outdoor habitat at the aquarium. This allows the public to observe their aquatic antics while the whales participate in noninvasive research, the aquarium says on its website.