Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

Baby beluga whales that were born within 13 days of each other last December have been named Dabai, Diandian, and Didi (大白 Big White, 点点 Dots, 迪迪 Follower) after online suggestions were made by 10,000 fans.

The "little" (200 kg, 440 lb) mammals made their summer public debut at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Hengqin New Area on July 24.

Big brother Dabai likes hiding in corners so that the handlers have to seek him; second brother Diandian is mild and prefers treating fish as toys; and little sister Didi is energetic, however, and heavy sports keep her slim although she devours three to four smelts a day.

Tranquil leisure time

The births set a world record for such contiguous deliveries in captivity and provide new data for further research of cetaceans. The suckling period of the species is 1.5 to two years. The calves now take breast milk twice or thrice hourly and are growing quickly.

The trio went through their first exfoliation in February. Their skin is still mostly gray for now and will fade to entirely white until their sexual maturity at 5 to 10 years old.

Having adapted to the environment of the Beluga Whale Aquarium, they sometimes even separate from their mothers, swimming and studying with toys. The gregarious life will help them learn how to use voice to communicate with peers and master the skills of diving, swimming, and eating fish.

Chimelong is now home to over 30 beluga whales -- the largest breeding population in the country. The species was placed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2008. 

Big family [Photos provided by Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort]