After only day two or three of his life, this baby beluga's time nearly ran out. After losing his pod during a storm, the newborn was swimming near Bristol Bay all alone. Fortunately, the Alaska SeaLife Center -- the same folks that took in our favorite otter orphan -- came to the young whale's aid.

The beluga calf is the first to be rescued from U.S. waters, but he's not out of the woods (so to speak) yet. Sadly, his condition is so touch-and-go, the center has been reluctant to give him a name. But experts from all over the country (Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, and SeaWorld-San Diego) have flown to Seward, Alaska, to help him pull through. And as you can see, he seems to be taking to his new human pod.

Update: I am sad to report the beluga calf has died. The ASLC is looking into the ultimate cause of death and hope "there is more we will continue to learn about beluga whales as a result of this loss that will ultimately benefit beluga whales in the marine mammal community and in the wild.”