Georgia Aquarium Newborn Beluga Calf born Friday Dies

AP

| Posted: 05/23/2012

ATLANTA (AP) — The first beluga whale born at the Georgia Aquarium has died.

Aquarium officials say the calf died Wednesday morning. The 82-pound beluga was underweight when she was born Friday and had been in critical condition since then with 24-hour care from aquarium workers.

First-time pregnancies in belugas and other types of marine mammals are often unsuccessful in both captivity and the wild. Aquarium chief animal officer William Hurley says the birth was challenging and the calf had difficulty swimming. That means she couldn’t rise to the surface of the water to breathe.

The aquarium is performing a necropsy to determine cause of death.

Hurley said mother whale Maris is being monitored by aquarium staff and is doing well.

In this photo provided by the Georgia Aquarium, members of the Georgia Aquarium animal care staff assist a beluga whale as she bonds with her newborn calf that was born Friday, May 18, 2012, at the aquarium in Atlanta. First pregnancies in beluga whales are often unsuccessful in the wild and in captivity. The calf is the first beluga born at Georgia Aquarium. (AP Photo/Georgia Aquarium) more …..

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