ChicagoTuesday, November 3
Shedd Aquarium says two rescued belugas had long-term nutritional problems before they died
The 5AM Evanston team
Shedd Aquarium released necropsy findings Monday on Osiris and Caspian, two of the 10 belugas moved from Marineland in Canada this summer. Both had depleted fat reserves and abnormal organs, consistent with long-term nutritional and caloric deficiencies. The aquarium said neither necropsy found a single, definitive cause of death.
Six of the 10 rescued belugas are still alive
6 of 10
- still alive
- 4 have died
Sources: FOX 32 Chicago, ABC7 Chicago
View as table
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| still alive | 6 | 60% |
| have died | 4 | 40% |
“These chronic conditions were unknowable before the rescue and made it difficult for the whales to thrive despite immediate medical care and attention.”
The six survivors, Acadia, Lillooet, Sierra, Secord, Gimli and Yukon, are eating their full daily diets, Shedd said, and ABC7 Chicago reports they remain under close watch around the clock.
Osiris died Sept. 21 and Caspian died Oct. 7
| Beluga | Age | Died |
|---|---|---|
| Osiris | 26 | Sept. 21 |
| Caspian | 27 | Oct. 7 |
Source: FOX 32 Chicago
- Osiris: fat reserves almost entirely depleted; chronic liver disease
- Caspian: muscle loss and chronic intestinal inflammation
- Peekachu and Rain: also died; earlier necropsies found gastrointestinal inflammation
- Osiris had a history of inconsistent eating before the rescue
Sources: FOX 32 Chicago, ABC7 Chicago