Beluga rescued from Ontario's Marineland dies at California aquarium
Cyprus, a nine-year-old male, died after stopping to eat, adding to several deaths among animals relocated from the now-closed Canadian park.
SAN DIEGO · A beluga whale rescued from Marineland in Ontario has died at SeaWorld San Diego, the latest death among animals relocated from the now-closed Canadian facility. The aquarium said Cyprus, a nine-year-old male, stopped eating on Friday and an ultrasound showed his intestinal tract was not functioning normally. Cyprus had arrived at the California park on Aug. 22 and had been eating well and interacting with his trainers. SeaWorld said a full necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
The aquarium noted that belugas can mask discomfort or underlying concerns that are not immediately visible. "As we have indicated, this process will take a considerable amount of time," SeaWorld said in a social media post on Sunday. "Our commitment to the health, well-being and care of these belugas, like every animal we rescue, continues." The facility said the other rescued belugas in its care are in stable health and remain under close monitoring.
SeaWorld said it will share the cause of Cyprus's death with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration after the necropsy is completed. The beluga was one of 30 belugas and four dolphins transferred from Marineland this summer after the Niagara Falls, Ont., park said it was running out of money and could no longer care for the animals. This death follows several others among the relocated animals. Less than two weeks ago, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago said Caspian, a 27-year-old female beluga from Marineland, died despite efforts to save her. Caspian had not been eating properly and had abnormal electrolyte levels, according to Shedd. Shedd Aquarium said it performed necropsies on two other Marineland whales that died there, Peekachu and Rain, and concluded they had chronic, pre-existing diseases. A beluga named Jelly Bean and a dolphin named Echo also died at Oceanografic Valencia in Spain after the move from Canada.
With files from The Canadian Press, CityNews and CBC News