Beluga Whale Cyprus Dies at SeaWorld San Diego Months After Canadian Rescue
SeaWorld San Diego, in San Diego County, California, announced on October 18 that Cyprus, a nine-year-old male beluga whale, died unexpectedly on Sunday. Cyprus was one of three male belugas rescued on August 22 from the shuttered Marineland park in Niagara Falls, Canada, and had been adjusting to his new home in San Diego.
SeaWorld said Cyprus stopped eating two days earlier, prompting veterinarians and animal care staff to conduct a thorough medical exam. An ultrasound showed his intestinal tract was not functioning normally, indicating a possible serious, life-threatening condition. Veterinarians worked through the night but were unable to save him. The park said Cyprus had been eating consistently, acclimating to his new environment and interacting with trainers and the two other rescued belugas, Xavier and Jasper, who remain in stable health under close monitoring.
SeaWorld said belugas naturally hide physical distress, which can mask serious health issues in their early stages, and that each rescued whale was navigating a significant transition whose full health picture would only become clearer through ongoing assessment. A full necropsy will be conducted, and the cause of death will be shared with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (GSM, via the New York Post)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 白鲸资料图。摄影：Stan Shebs，CC BY-SA 3.0（Wikimedia Commons）
