Georgia Aquarium beluga whale calf dies

“In the early morning hours of June 5, the calf began showing signs of lethargy and needed assistance to swim. While next to her mother and in the arms of her dedicated caregivers, the calf took her last breath, and her heart stopped just after 7:00 a.m…Odds for calf survival increase with each of the mother’s consecutive pregnancies, both in human care and in the wild. Maris (the mother), was closely monitored by veterinary and animal care staff throughout her pregnancy. The calf was carried to full-term.”

This calf was born to father Beethoven and Maris, who also welcomed a calf in May 2012 that died in less than a week.

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