Qila, the first beluga whale to be born in captivity in Canada has died at the age of 21.
Qila was from the Western Hudson Bay population of wild beluga whales but was born into captivity and held at the Vancouver Aquarium for all of her short life. The cause of death is not know at this point but further investigations are expected to take place.
Belugas can live up to the age of 60 in the wild, travelling large distances each day, hunting and playing. In captivity they have very little space and cannot behave naturally. A concrete tank can never replace their ocean home.