Baby Orca Dies at marine life park

[disneygirl21]

A baby orca born at Marineland Canada during the week of April 4 died suddenly. I am deeply affected by this. I'm obsessed with orcas (want to be an orca trainer at seaworld) and this has made me cry. Only 2 weeks old and the poor baby dies. That is soooooo sad!

<- me all day

 

[disneygirl21]

baby was supposedly a female

 

[preshi]

Thats exactly why they shouldn't allow such largae animals to be contained in such small areas. How tragic that another animal has to die. It took 2 elephants dying at the SF Zoo for them to shut down the whole exhibit... 2 animals lost their lives beofre they changed anything. Ridculous.

 

[disneygirl21]

I think the baby was born sick. MLC has a large orca facility and they take real good care of them. However, this baby suffered because it was sick. So sad.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Do we know WHY this whale died? Sorry I was posting the same time you were.

 

[disneygirl21]

Do we know WHY this whale died?

I think it was sick. The mother orca, Nootka V, has always had problems with babies. None of her calves survived more than 2.5 years.

 

[disneygirl21]

more info tomorrow

 

[phillybeth]

I agree that they should not be kept in captivity, but how many babies survive in the wild either? Not too many I would think. If this mother has never had a baby survive I would think it is something genetic, she should probably not breed anymore.

 

[preshi]

Why in the world would they keep breeding an animal when its offspring keep dying... good heavens.

On a side note, I have NO problem with places that provide natural enviroments for animals. But a million gallon tank doesn't cut it for a whale that would normally swim a large number of miles in a day. Killer whales have a lifespan of 60-70 years. I wonder how old the oldest captive orca is?