Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Young Killer Whale Dies at SeaWorld in San Antonio


The 2-1/2 year-old female Orca that died on Monday was the second killer whale to die at the San Antonio facility. The other one, a 14 year old male, died last October.

An necroscopy will take four to six weeks. In the meantime, we can speculate.

  • A disease or some other pathological cause, e.g. genetic defect.
  • Trauma -- from another whale or from a self-inflicted injury.
  • A toxicological cause, chemical or environmental. Toxic habitat.
  • Depression. She was rejected by her mother and was, after all, a captive animal.
  • Foul play.

Two dead whales in less than a year at the same location. I'd say that was something to look into.

-seabgb

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