Talk:Vancouver Aquarium/Animal deaths

Animal Deaths

While learning to provide proper husbandry to wild animals, many animals died under the care of the Vancouver Aquarium.

• In 1962, collectors from the aquarium captured five American Crocodiles from the wild in Mexico. Four of the reptiles died while being housed in an 8foot by 12foot pool. Cuddles, the one who survived, was sent to the Toronto Zoo where surgery uncovered a three pound mass of pennies, flashbulbs, buttons, marbles and a rifle shell in his stomach, all items thrown at the animal by aquarium visitors.

• In 1968, a wild orca named Natsidalia was captured and died 7 months later. Also that year, a narwhal was captured, but was shot and killed due to rope burns made during the capture.

• In 1969, Splasher, a dolphin caught in the wild in 1967, was either crushed by the orca Skana or rammed the pool wall and died.

• In 1970, the aquarium captured five narwhals from the wild, all of whom died within four months of captivity.

• In 1976, the beluga Bella, captured in the wild, died after almost nine years in captivity.

• In 1977, Tuaq, a baby beluga born to Kavna, died at four months of age.

• In 1979, a Mola Mola, a type of sunfish, died within a few days in the aquarium due to the shock of temperature change.

• In 1980, the orca Skana, captured in the wild, died after 14 years in captivity. . That same year, the beluga Legosi died after 13 years at the aquarium.

• In 1985, the beluga Sanaq, captured in the wild, died from a reaction to an injection of antibiotics. Arion, a dolphin captured in the wild, died after two years in the aquarium.

• In 1988, the orca Bjossa’s first baby died from starvation at the age of 22 days. In 1991, her second baby K’yosha died at the age of 97 days after repeatedly ramming the tank wall fracturing her jaw. In 1995, Bjossa’s third baby died after ten minutes. The baby’s dead body remained in the tank for several days.

• In 1989, the beluga Churchill, captured in the wild, dies.

• In 1991, Hyak, captured in the wild, died after more than 22 years at the aquarium.

• In 1997, the orca Finna, captured in the wild in Iceland in 1980, died at the age of 21 years.

• In 2001, the orca Bjossa, caught in the wild in Iceland in 1980, died in SeaWorld San Diego after being transferred there by the aquarium. The transfer was made mainly due changing attitudes about how much space orcas needed in captivity, as well as a chronic respitory illness that Bjossa had been suffering from.96.48.37.182 (talk) 23:17, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

• In 2002, the wild caught dolphin Whitewings died during a procedure to remove pool debris thrown by aquarium visitors from her stomach.

• In 2005, the aquarium-born beluga Tuvaq96.48.37.182 (talk) 23:17, 22 February 2009 (UTC) died after three years at the aquarium.