Beluga Whales
The zoo used to house belugas. In March 2009 one of the two belugas, Qannik, died of a blood infection. Beethoven, Qannik's companion, was sent to SeaWorld, San Antonio, on 5 June 2009. Beethoven's former companion and half brother died three years earlier on 7 September 2006 of chronic liver failure, which resulted in Qannik being brought to the zoo in June 2007, soon after Beethoven had recovered from a severe infection.
A previous couple of belugas, Millie and Christy, died almost in unison in 2000. Mauyak was sent to Shedd Aquarium in 1997 for breeding, where she gave birth not only to Qannik but also to Miki, who is now 2 years old.
No new belugas have been brought to the zoo since Beethoven's departure, and none are scheduled to arrive any time in the foreseeable future, and Rocky Shores now houses harbor seals where belugas used to swim.
Read more about this topic: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Famous quotes containing the word whales:
“Though once there were more whales cast up here, I think that it was never more wild than now.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)