Mystic — Home to the largest beluga whale habitat in the United States, Mystic Aquarium is awaiting approval from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to receive five beluga whales born at a facility in Canada.

Mystic Aquarium's beluga whales are kept for scientific research purposes that provide key information on the species as a whole, the news release said. Through non-invasive techniques, scientists are able to monitor the whales' stress levels, reproductive, nutritional, metabolic and immune statuses. Scientists use this information to inform their understanding of wild beluga whales.

The five whales are coming from Marineland Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. 

An unfortunate outcome of being born in captivity, however, is a hyper-dependency that the beluga whales have on humans. Without intervention, the whales would not survive, Stephen M. Coan, Ph.D., president and CEO of Sea Research Foundation, which operates Mystic Aquarium, said in the release.

"The best option for them is to live in Mystic's world-class outdoor habitat where they will be a part of groundbreaking research to help protect wild beluga populations," he said.

Dale Wolbrink, senior director of public relations for Mystic Aquarium, added, "It is logistically difficult, far more expensive and extremely challenging to conduct comprehensive research on wild belugas, underscoring the importance of the research underway at Mystic Aquarium."

Through the acquisition of these five new captive beluga whales, Mystic Aquarium hopes to enhance their study of wild beluga whales.

"Our whales help us to discover new realities about belugas and transfer that knowledge to monitor and improve the health of the species in the wild," Coan said.