Mystic beluga whale dies
One of five whales brought to Mystic Aquarium in May has died.
A beluga whale, one of five brought to Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium from Canada despite protests from animal welfare organizations, died Friday, the aquarium announced.
The male whale had a preexisting gastrointestinal condition, according to a statement from the aquarium.
“Mystic Aquarium’s team of veterinarians and animal care experts devoted the full capacity of their expertise to this beluga, providing round-the-clock medical treatment, testing and 24-hour monitoring in an effort to help him recover,” the statement said.
The whale had been in treatment for gastric ulcers he developed before arriving in May and had been showing signs of improvement, according to the aquarium. Aquarium officials also said veterinarians and multiple federal agencies in Canada and the United States had cleared the transport.
The decision to import the whales, however, sparked heated opposition from animal welfare groups. Officials at Mystic, where belugas have been a popular attraction for generations, said the whales would enable research that helps protect the species. Animal Welfare Institute and other advocates countered that the stress of the transport would be too much for the whales, and it would make more sense for scientists to come to the animals.
The exact cause of death was not known Saturday, but the whale’s body was sent to the University of Connecticut for examination. The aquarium will continue to monitor its seven remaining belugas, which are healthy and behaving normally, according to the statement.
“This is devastating for the staff and community, especially for the members of the animal care team who work closely with the belugas and not only contribute to critical research aimed at saving endangered populations but inspire thousands of visitors each year to protect marine life as well,” the statement said.
Aquarium staff are in the process of naming the whales from Canada, and the animal that died had not been named, aquarium spokesman Daniel Pesquera said. The five whales ranged in age from 5 to 7 years old. On arrival at the aquarium, the beluga that died was 11 feet, 1 inch long and weighed 1,192 pounds, Pesquera said.
The Mystic belugas live in a 750,000-gallon outdoor habitat that the aquarium calls the largest in the U.S. The whales are white, cold-water animals that can weigh up to about 3,500 pounds and are often displayed in captivity. Some subpopulations of the whales are endangered, and they face threats such as pollution and climate change.