Mystic Aquarium Raises $3.5 Million For Beluga Whales

MYSTIC, CT — A fundraising effort to help save endangered beluga whales raised $3.4 million for Mystic Aquarium, according to a statement. The money will be used to fund care provided to the belugas at the aquarium as well as a conservation research initiative intended to save endangered populations of belugas and other whales disappearing from the wild.

More than 200 attendees and online bidders from around the world participated in a live auction at the aquarium Thursday evening, which included the auctioning off naming rights for the aquarium’s newly arrived belugas.

"The Mystic Aquarium community is overwhelmed by the generosity from the many supporters who came out to help advance our mission to provide the best possible life for our beluga whales and preserve endangered populations. 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," Steve Coan, president and CEO of the Mystic Aquarium, said in a statement.

The cost of caring for Mystic Aquarium’s beluga whales costs multiple millions of dollars annually, including approximately $250,000 in food and veterinary care for each animal.

There are also significant costs associated with running and maintaining the Arctic Coast habitat, the beluga’s 750,000-gallon outdoor residence that is the largest of its kind in North America and is specifically designed to optimize access to the whales for both care and research, according to the statement.

The aquarium currently has seven belugas, including the new arrivals who were brought to Mystic Aquarium in May from Canada.