Oceanogràfic València disclosed in a press statement on October 14 that a beluga whale and dolphin, which perished shortly after leaving Marineland, exhibited various health issues and organ irregularities that might have existed before the relocation.
The Spanish aquarium mentioned that these anomalies possibly arose before the animals’ arrival in Valencia and were not detected during initial health evaluations prior to their transfer.
Beluga Jelly Bean and dolphin Echo, in addition to three other dolphins and beluga whale Cleopatra, were brought to the Valencia aquarium on August 27 but sadly passed away less than a month later. Meanwhile, four other beluga whales from Marineland and an additional beluga not originating from Marineland have also succumbed since being rescued at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.
The necropsy, conducted by Oceanogràfic València, revealed initial findings, which were shared with CBC News.
As per the preliminary results, Jelly Bean suffered from “a complex clinical condition,” displaying indications of a metabolic disorder and electrolyte imbalance in the days leading up to her demise.
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Ex-Marineland beluga whale dies in Chicago aquarium
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Marineland belugas that died in Chicago had chronic inflammatory disease, preliminary necropsy findings show
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Marineland dolphin dies at Spain aquarium, marking 5th death after rescue transfer
Post-mortem examination revealed abnormalities in Jelly Bean’s heart, along with an enlarged thyroid gland and shrunken adrenal glands, all vital for metabolic regulation.
The aquarium reported that in her final days, she displayed unusual behavior, such as ingesting water, which exacerbated her condition. Despite experiencing “feeding difficulties” upon arrival, the 19-year-old beluga had shown signs of improvement before her passing on September 18.
CBC News attempted to contact Marineland for a response to the necropsy findings but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.
Continuous Veterinary Care Needed for Dolphin
Echo, a 30-year-old Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, was the fifth animal to perish within a month of the transfer.
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