Animal lovers young and old spent Friday afternoon waiting in anticipation at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Spectators were hoping to catch a glimpse of a live whale birth -- beluga grandmother Aurora is expected to go into labour in the next few days.
Tiqa has been the baby of the beluga pool since her birth last June - but aquarium staff veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena says that's about to change.
"[Aurora's] getting very close to birth," Haulena said. "We're probably looking at days, not weeks anymore."
Volunteers are monitoring the whale's behaviour around the clock and watching for any signs that she's ready to deliver her third calf.
"For me it's incredible," volunteer Zzachry Charland-Snow said Friday. "It's something I love spending my time doing."
Aurora's male calf Tuvaq was born in the summer of 2002, but died three years later.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber
