標題: Vancouver Aquarium Beluga Calf, Nala Dies [打印本頁] 作者: Guy 時間: 2010-6-23 03:32 標題: Vancouver Aquarium Beluga Calf, Nala Dies
本帖最後由 Guy 於 2010-6-23 03:37 編輯
Vancouver Aquarium Beluga Calf, Nala
We are saddened to announce the unexpected loss of Nala, the Aquarium’s youngest beluga calf, who died at approximately 10:15 pm, on June 21, 2010. Nala was an energetic and curious calf who seemed to enjoy socializing with playmate Tiqa (the Aquarium’s oldest calf), mom Aurora and Qila, Tiqa’s mom. She was a very special beluga and brought joy to many people.
This is a devastating loss to everyone at the Aquarium, in particular for the marine mammal staff, the veterinary care team, the cetacean research team and the volunteers who spent so much time observing Nala during her development.
Q. How did Nala die?
A. The preliminary results of Nala’s necropsy indicate that she had a unique “pocket” (diverticulum) in her airway that contained three foreign bodies(Two stones and one penny.) The “pocket” had become inflamed resulting in obstruction to the airway and an accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This was unforeseeable. At this time we are unsure if the airway pocket, which has not been previously seen in the examination of other belugas, was congenital—we will be investigating further.
Q. How rare is this condition?
A. To our knowledge, this condition has never been reported before in either wild or Aquarium dolphins or belugas.
Q. Was Nala sick when she died?
A. Yes, Nala was being treated for an infection and was receiving antibiotics, supplementary fluids and anti-inflammatory medication to help her fight the infection. Nala appeared to be responding well to treatment until her condition began to worsen on Monday.
Q. How old was Nala?
A. Nala was born on June 7, 2009 at the Vancouver Aquarium to mother Aurora and father Imaq.
Q. Who are the other belugas at the Vancouver Aquarium?
* Qila (KEE-la) is Nala's half-sister. She was born at the Aquarium on July 23, 1995. Her mother is Aurora and her father, Nanuq, now lives at Sea World in the United States.
* Tiqa (TEE-kah) is Nala’s-half sister. She was born at the Aquarium on June 10, 2008. Her mother is Qila and her Father is Imaq.
* Aurora is Qila and Nala’s mother. She was born in approximately 1987 and arrived at the Aquarium from Churchill, Manitoba in the summer of 1990.
* Imaq (E-mack) is Nala’s father. He was born in approximately 1987 and arrived at the Aquarium from Churchill, Manitoba in the summer of 1990.
* Kavna is the oldest beluga at the Aquarium. She was born around 1969 and arrived here from Churchill, Manitoba in the summer of 1976.作者: habitrailspace 時間: 2010-6-23 07:16
作者: September 時間: 2010-6-23 08:37
She's only 1 year old....
RIP Nala作者: Lik 時間: 2010-6-23 09:06
IIRC, calves, esp the ones that are born in captivity, generally have a low-ish rate of reaching maturity. So personally, I am not overly sad about Nala dying. To me, the really sad thing was that she died because of having a penny (and also a rock) being stuck in her air passage, thus causing the infection. Did a spectator toss the coin directly at her? Or perhaps it was tossed into her tank, and later made its way to her blow hole?
Whoever it was that tossed the penny had whale blood on his hands...
