Ex-Marineland beluga that died in Spain developed 'complex clinical condition,' aquarium says
Oceanogràfic València says investigation continues into deaths of rescued beluga and dolphin
A beluga whale and dolphin that died within weeks of being transferred out of Marineland had been experiencing a list of health complications and organ abnormalities that could've developed prior to the transfer, Oceanogràfic València said in a news release on Oct. 14.
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València → die → Oct.
The Spanish aquarium said the abnormalities "may have developed before the animals arrived in Valencia" and may have not been apparent in health assessments before its transfer.
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animals → say → transfer
Beluga Jelly Bean and dolphin Echo arrived, along with three other dolphins and beluga whale Cleopatra, to the aquarium in Valencia, Spain, on Aug. 27, but died just under a month after the move.
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Bean → arrive → move
Meanwhile, four other Marineland whales — Peekachu, Rain, Osiris and Caspian — have died since the rescue at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, along with another beluga that did not come from Marineland.
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that → die → Marineland
The necropsy was performed by Oceanogràfic València, which shared an English translation of a news release with their preliminary findings with CBC News.
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which → perform → News
Per the preliminary findings, Jelly Bean developed "a complex clinical condition," showing signs of metabolic disorder and electrolyte imbalance in the days before her death.
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Bean → develop → death
Ex-Marineland beluga whale dies in Chicago aquarium
Marineland belugas that died in Chicago had chronic inflammatory disease, preliminary necropsy findings show
Marineland dolphin dies at Spain aquarium, marking 5th death after rescue transfer
Abnormalities were found in Jelly Bean's heart, as well as an enlarged thyroid gland and shrunken adrenal glands, all organs responsible for regulating metabolism, according to the post-mortem findings.
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Abnormalities → die → findings
During her final days, the aquarium said she'd been exhibiting unusual behaviour, ingesting water which "further complicated her condition."
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which → say → condition
They said the 19-year-old beluga whale had experienced "feeding difficulties" upon arrival, but she'd been showing signs of improvement.
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she → say → improvement
She died on Sept. 18.
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She → die → Sept.
CBC News reached out to Marineland for comment on the necropsy's preliminary findings, but did not hear back in time for publication.
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News → reach → publication
Dolphin needed 'continuous veterinary care'
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Dolphin → need → care
Echo, a 30-year-old Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, was fifth among the six animals that died in the first month since the transfer.
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that → die → transfer
According to Oceanogràfic València's news release, she arrived with a "severe vision impairment and limited mobility in one of her flippers."
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she → accord → flippers
And in the days leading up to her death, they say Echo was showing neurological and respiratory symptoms, which required "continuous veterinary care."
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which → lead → care
They say she had "inflammation in the brain and nervous tissue, consistent with toxoplasmosis."
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she → say → toxoplasmosis
The Spanish aquarium says it has specialists investigating "the responsible infectious agent" and that direct transmission between dolphins of the parasitic disease does not happen.
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transmission → say → disease
Investigation ongoing
Oceanogràfic València says it will continue to investigate the deaths of Jelly Bean and Echo.
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it → say → Bean
The aquarium is working with pathologists specialists from CEU Cardenal Herrera University and Valencia's Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, and veterinary medicine research groups.
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aquarium → work → Medicine
"This was a rescue mission, aimed at giving the remaining belugas the best chance at a safe, healthy life based on individual health assessments, with an understanding of the risks involved," a spokesperson for Fisheries and Oceans Canada told CBC News in an email Wednesday.
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spokesperson → aim → email
"Some of these whales carried long-term health issues from their time at Marineland, and those often don't show until it's too late," the spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → carry → Marineland
"We remain thankful to the experienced professionals involved in this operation, including the team in Spain who cared for Jelly Bean."
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who → remain → Bean
Marine mammal scientist expects more deaths
Animal Welfare Institute marine mammal scientist Naomi Rose acknowledges the feat to rescue the captive animals, but she finds it disingenuous for the aquariums to claim that the animals' pre-existing conditions were not "clinically apparent."
"We all knew the whales at Marineland were sick," Rose told CBC News on Wednesday.
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Rose → expect → Wednesday
She said the stress of transport can linger for up to a year and potentially cause an extreme reaction like death.
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stress → say → death
"We could be seeing deaths for the next months.
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We → see → months
Oceanogràfic València says its veterinary and animal care staff will closely monitor the remaining beluga whale Cleopatra and three other dolphins, who are "progressing well."
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who → say → whale
Beluga whales Balor and Zephyr, relocated to Georgia Aquarium, are "integrating well" with other whales and "adjusting to their new habitat," according to an aquarium Instagram post last month.
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whales → relocate → post
But the Atlanta-based aquarium did note Zephyr's decreased appetite sand said Balor "has not gained weight as steadily as expected."
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Balor → base → weight
SeaWorld told CBC News on Sept. 17 that the 16 other beluga whales they took — 13 of which have been relocated to the San Antonio, Texas, and three to San Diego — "continue to be in stable health."
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13 → tell → health
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