First of two pregnant walruses gives birth at Quebec City aquarium

It’s a walrus!

A walrus pup was born at the Quebec City Aquarium Saturday to parents Arnaliaq and Boris.

Twelve-year-old Arnaliaq gave birth naturally, without human help. The sex of the pup is not yet known because the mother is protective of her newborns, and zoologists will not approach until later, which is safer for the mother and her baby.

Labour began at 3 p.m. Friday, and the baby was born at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

This is the first baby walrus born in Canadian captivity, and only the 7^th born in North American captivity since 1930.

Samka, a second walrus at the Quebec Aquarium, is due next month.

There are only 30 walruses in captivity around the world.

For more updates to come, such as the name and gender of the baby, visit the Quebec Aquarium's Facebook page.

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  Walrus Arnaliaq, left, and Samka rest their head on the side of the pool, Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at the Quebec aquarium in Quebec City. Arnaliaq and Samka should give birth respectively by the end of April and at the beginning of June. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot