Taima (Tilikum's Mate), a Young Killer Whale, Has Died Giving Birth; Her Calf Was Stillborn - SeaWorld Orlando
source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/07/florida.sea.world.whale.death/index.html?hpt=P1&iref=NS1
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- EthicalVegan
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By the CNN Wire Staff
June 7, 2010 1:17 a.m. EDT
(CNN) -- A killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando died Sunday while giving birth, the theme park said. The calf was stillborn.
The father of the calf was Tilikum -- the killer whale involved in death of a trainer in February.
SeaWorld canceled two shows on Sunday, but all shows were expected to resume Monday.
"We are very saddened by this loss," said Chris Dold, vice president of veterinary services for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. "Although we understand that complications with pregnancy can occur here, just as they do in the wild, the loss of any animal affects all of us at SeaWorld."
Taima, a 20-year-old killer whale, died from complications associated with the birthing process, SeaWorld said. Taima had successfully given birth to three calves previously.
"Preliminary indications suggest that her death was caused by a condition in which the placenta is delivered before the fetus, as well as an unusual position of the fetus in the birthing canal," SeaWorld said. "She was not able to deliver the stillborn fetus naturally; SeaWorld's veterinarians attempted to assist, but her complications were too severe."
SeaWorld has had 26 successful births of killer whale calves in captivity, according to Dold, who said the birthing success rate is about 50 percent in the wild and 85 percent in a "zoological situation."
A necropsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death.
http://tippnews.com/wp-content/uploads/Killer_Whale.jpg
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Kurta
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I don't understand why the allow them to breed in captivity. Oh wait...It's easier that stealing one from the wild. Honestly, as much as I loved Sea World as a child, there is no reason for a muti-ton, intelligent animal to live in an aquarium and perform for us. There's a reason why their dorsal fins sag in captivity. I'd imagine that I would be rather flacid in the same situation...
Sometimes I wish that a 35 foot shark would sneak in and eat some tourists. Maybe make a crappy 3-D movie about it...Lou Gossett Jr. maybe... or an uppity Aussie...
- 1 year ago
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Kurta
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jefftego
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This is really sad and may have been avoided. This would have been Taima's 4th calf, which is a very high number for a 20 year old orca. The cause may have been from damage to her uterus from breeding so young and too frequently. In the wild females don't have their first calf until they are well into their teens and generally have one about every 5 years. Taima had her first calf when she was 8 years old.
- 1 year ago
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jefftego
