Necropsy results show the baby beluga whale rescued in Alaska last month had multiple infections, including in his heart and lungs.
Alaska SeaLife Center veterinarian Dr. Carrie Goertz says in an email to The Associated Press that early tests also confirmed suspicions that the whale’s immune system wasn’t fully developed.
The whale, estimated to be 2 days old when it was separated from its mother, was rescued in Alaska’s Bristol Bay on June 18. He was taken to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, where it received around-the-clock care.
The whale’s condition deteriorated over the weekend, and it died early Monday.
