Q: I read about the removal of a whale and how it was transported from San Antonio. How do they transport a whale like that from San Antonio to the Georgia Aquarium?
—Eddie Webster, Douglasville
A: It's common for animals to be moved between facilities for a variety of reasons that include breeding or population management, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Aquarium told Q&A on the News.
“When moving an animal, like a beluga whale, the entire process is planned months in advance with a large team of dedicated, experienced professionals,” Paige Hale, assistant manager of communications for the aquarium, wrote in an email.
She said the animals are moved comfortably and safely, many times aboard a privately chartered plane.
“They are also accompanied by veterinary and animal care team members to make sure their transition is as smooth as possible,” she wrote.
Qinu, a pregnant beluga whale at the aquarium whose calf died on Nov. 7, was brought to the aquarium from SeaWorld San Antonio in 2010.
The AJC reported in 2010 that Qinu arrived in Atlanta abroad a FedEx plane, along with Grayson, another beluga. The whales were transported in a separate fiberglass containers with water that was temperature controlled, according to the past AJC story.
Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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