Tiqa the baby beluga plays with an American Dipper

A delightful and very touching friendship between a baby Beluga whale and a small bird - an American Dipper - filmed in the Vancouver Aquarium. The baby Beluga calf (I'm told it's Tiqa) spends over four minutes playfully approaching a small bird feeding at the waters edge. It squirts water at the busily feeding bird, opens its jaws, clicks and vocalizes, and gives every evidence of enjoying the encounter. The bird, for its part, seems quite unconcerned, giving no evidence of fear or discomfort, and I guess we can learn that if such diverse creatures can get on so well with each other, shouldn't we humans try just a little harder to do the same.

[@MamaEtna]

I am dying from the cuteness! The whale behaves and sound like an infant.

[@Imon2udude]

I don't know what's cuter than a baby baluga.

[@SquatchSis-0522]

It looks like he's playing with it, but I think if he could get up to it a little easier he might eat it.

[@tinagalang4910]

I love beluga whales. They are so friendly.😍

[@simonedevlin7710]

Tiqa is adorable and so gentle when she plays.

[@junkoj4914]

So cute! This beluga never splash directly to the bird. It looks she thinks the bird is a friend and the bird knows it.

[@BlancheDuBoisIntrovert]

I think this is an unrequited romance. The whale is like, "I love you. Let me squirt water and make loud sounds at you," while the bird is like, "I just need a drink...stop trying to talk to me." The Beluga isn't taking the hint. lol

[@isaacstone7899]

That’s cute beluga pod and best explore experience out of water exotic.

[@Erin-vu1tt]

Adorable! 🥰🥰🥰 Someone get that baby a ball! Maybe a friendly penguin to swim and play with! 🐧🐬❤ I've never been interested in traveling, but I so would travel to see these whales in person. 🥰

[@darkprose]

What an encounter for that bird. This would be like walking into the surf to cool off and a curious humpback whale surfaces in front of you to see what your deal is.

[@model3man]

Joseph Charles - great analogy :)

[@user-yy1rf9pk5y]

수족관이 아니라 자연에서 보니깐 좋네요 감사해요 그리고 벨루가야 사랑해 귀여운 장난꾸러기

[@broomrider4699]

I think the dipper is playing with Tiqa!

[@psychosomatique]

pourquoi ces animaux extraordinaires et intelligents sont ils dans un aquarium??? qui trouve cela "normal"? ne devrions nous pas nous préoccuper à les protéger dans leur milieux naturel? et qu'attend on pour interdire leur pêche sauvage par les baleiniers? peut on encore parler d'humanité quand on ne sait pas respecter une vie? merci néanmoins pour ce partage, je me doute que vous êtes vous aussi comme moi un être respectueux du vivant mais je ne peux pas m'empêcher de réveiller les consciences, merci à vous. bonne journée

[@eddiefucktrumpluera]

i just love this! ❤

[@dreamworld6]

Yep Yep Yep ! Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful video! I really appreciate this and enjoyed watching and learning something new!.

[@iHeartKyu]

This is a very cute video. Thanks for sharing it. Other animals know if a different animal is a baby or not. Tiqa in particular seems to watch and squirt water at seagulls.

[@Crisperdad]

So cool! Talk about being at the right place at the right moment! Glad you had a camera!

[@boxaficionado]

What a cutie! I work at the Aquarium & I linked your vid in our staff newsletter. FYI, I just received this message from our senior beluga coordinator: "Just wanted to let you know that the beluga/bird video is actually of Tiqa, not Nala. Nala pops up near the end to look at the bird, but the main beluga interacting with the bird is Tiqa. Tiqa pretty regularly interacts with birds in her habitat; so far Nala has just shown very passing interest in the birds. " Thanks again for sharing!

[@lauralishes1]

Poor thing is dying of loneliness and boredom, trapped in a concrete box for the enjoyment of humans

[@harinarayanabonthala7813]

It's trying to split water on the bird😍

[@PsYcoPink]

I totally agree, and isn't this just so beautiful. I love it! Ty 4 sharing 😀 🐳🐬🐟🐬🐳

[@soundwavs1961c]

This was the best video I ever saw of anything! Amazing. I love Beluga whales. Thanks!!!!!!!

[@ChessArmyCommander]

Its trying to kiss the little bird!

[@juttab141]

Wonderful Beluga ❤

[@tikafeng5448]

So much sweetness 💞💞💟💞

[@blackroses_707]

Beluga 🐳 whale: I tell you I love you Birds: I've told you one, two, three, four, five, six thousand times Haven't I made it obvious? Haven't I made it clear? Want me to spell it out for you? F-R-I-E-N-D-S 💗😂

[@pibly7784]

Precious

[@sparklywindsield88]

Aww! That's so cute!

[@faythelululemon]

OMG this video is so beautiful!! Thank you plevey for catching this on your camera!!

[@shizukagozen777]

Bird: STAAAPP !!! THIS IS HARASSMENT !!! 😬🐦

[@liber777paradis]

Oh yes you are def. right i'm afraid of big sharks :) btw belugas are way bigger than dolphins :) I did scuba diving with dolphins in the Azores Islands in 1998 xD But my love is for sure the Dugongs they have NO fear from human and LOVE contact, they will swim right up to you and then u can tickle them or feed with sea grass :) I once got a hole pod to follow me and almost try to swim on land with me :) ppl who says they don't like humans should try to go there and see for themselves :)

[@mrDoveRock]

She welcomes you in Friendly Grin But look HOW SHARP ARE HER TEETH 😁

[@SallyAlbatross]

Very Lovely!

[@Reza-uw2lr]

This is why animals are better than human

[@DeviantMotives]

Cute baby 😊

[@grmpyland]

Could they have atleast clean the tank when theyre going to keep these beautiful animals in :(

[@tiggernc]

You should see what she does with Skinny Dippers!

[@pradeepsaikunisetty8660]

If it was a killer whale it would be food...

[@cupcakewhorexo]

i think hes just playing with it

[@pedrocoates960]

😍

[@tursiopss]

that so cute¡¡¡

[@lovekuni]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Marvcohen]

It wants the bird to toss it some food..........or be food

[@ezioauditoredafirenze5003]

An orca would've eaten the bird by now. They are the biggest trolls :D

[@CiganaOuro333]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@LongGamingSessions]

Am I the only one that read it as "American Diaper" instead of dipper?

[@model3man]

Yep :)

[@PragueImport]

I thought that American "dipper" meant something entirely different! A naughty beluga, I thought...

[@model3man]

You're absolutely right! Tiqa is totally "putting out", but the bird wants none of it. Sadly, I think Tiqa died recently (or not so recently). At least, I'm pretty sure I remember a report coming out from the Vancouver Aquarium to that effect! :-(

[@model3man]

Lol. Yeah, I missed capturing that :)

[@sekutyasemacska]

Do you know what happened with Tiqa? It’s quite sad, poor beluga is still a baby on the video. :((( Anyway, thank you for the capture, it’s truly beautiful.

[@marksmales2204]

There like..Oh look food!. 😊😊

[@model3man]

Taden Darkrunner - I think she’s just lonely and wants to play. They’re mammals just like us!

[@darthd101]

Dude they look like bottle nose dolphins but with a smaller snout

[@Christ_Is_Life10-10]

Is he trying to eat the bird?

[@model3man]

Nope - young belugas will play with anything :)

[@marishkagranada7985]

They're so pure and adorable... Can't imagine why they're being hunted by the Japanese and people somewhere in europe.🙄😪

[@sofiiminx]

Podria estar viendo esto todo el tiempo. Amo las belugas. Soy fan de ellas. Estoy intentando hacer dibujos de ellas. Tengo una carpeta en honor a ellas. Estoy por forrar mi carpeta con una beluga. Le pedire un dia de estos a mi amiga que me pinte una beluga,en una remera,para mi. PODRIA ESTAR VIENDO ESTE VIDEO SIN PESTAÑAR,OBSERVANDO LA BELUGA,DESEANDO ABRAZARLA,PEDIRLE SU AUTOGRAFO,SACARME FOTOS CON ELLA Y SECUESTRARLA.

[@mehitabel1290]

Or we could learn that creatures like beluga whales are not meant to live in isolation. My instinct is that the poor captive animal was frantic for companionship of ANY kind... Play is part of animal development and she was seeking it out. This video is actually very sad.

[@carlo._]

her mom, half-sister, and grandmother were in the habitat with her

[@Funksinthehouse]

I totally agree, or starving. Barbaric 😢

[@tinagalang4910]

He looks like a dolphin

[@Eckoolt]

Dolphins are whales

[@patronsaintofpoison]

Well, she has absolutely nothing else to do in that featureless, boring tank

[@model3man]

patronsaintofpoison - sadly, probably a true statement!

[@patronsaintofpoison]

@@model3man still, it's a great video. I've been watching it over and over. I'm very glad you captured this on film.

[@ablue5419]

Those belugas should be free in the ocean where they belong. Free Willy 😢🐬

[@turkeydinnerchewie2499]

A Blue it’s not that simple

[@liber777paradis]

LoL why be afraid of whales? they don't eat humans you know :) I have been swimming with belugas in Canada and once with Orcas in New zealand and diving with Dugongs in India and never been in danger :)

[@antpaste]

Dugongs aren't whales

[@CrazyBonyGurl]

She wants to eat it not play with it ... C'mon now

[@ontherisewithcandyceevette3037]

margot jimenez shut up

[@mrDoveRock]

She welcomes you in Friendly Grin But look HOW SHARP ARE HER TEETH 😁

[@pibly7784]

Precious