Chicago beluga travels to Conn. to breed

MYSTIC, Conn., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Officials at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago said a 2,100-pound beluga whale was flown to Connecticut to try breeding with a pair of females.

The aquarium said the whale, Naluark, was transported via a chartered plane from Chicago to Connecticut, where biologists will attempt to breed the 13-foot-long mammal with two females at the Mystic Aquarium, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday.

Naluark, who has previously sired three calves at the Shedd Aquarium, has visited Mystic before, officials said.

"It's kind of his home away from home," Shedd spokeswoman Andrea Smalec said.