Kayavak (born August 3, 1999) is a female beluga whale[1] that currently resides at the Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago.
[1] Kayavak was born on August 3, 1999, to a beluga named Immiayuk at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
They also chose not to place her with another adult female beluga, Puiji, who had lost her own calf four months prior.
Before her mother's death, she had been housed with other adult females Naya and Mauyak,[4] but had been kept isolated since Immiayuk died.
Beginning a year after her mother's death, Kayavak was introduced to Puiji and Naya, spending a few hours at a time with one of them before they would become aggressive towards her.