Reuters AlertNet Lite - Pascualita, Mexico's rescued baby whale, dies

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Pascualita, Mexico's rescued baby whale, dies

12 Jun 2007 00:08:33 GMT
Source: Reuters

MEXICO CITY, June 11 (Reuters) - A baby killer whale at the center of an international animal trafficking controversy has died at an aquarium in Mexico because it lacked its mother's milk after becoming stranded on a Pacific beach.

Owners of the aquarium had warned that the whale, who they named Pascualita, would die if she were not sent abroad because there was no tank in Mexico big enough to hold her and she could not fend for herself at sea.

But the government and environmentalists opposed a move from the aquarium in Nueva Vallarta because they feared it would set a precedent of animal trafficking from Mexico.

Mexico's environment agency said on Monday that the whale, also known as an orca, died on Sunday, two months after becoming stranded on the beach, because her immune system failed to develop due to a lack of milk and she was attacked by infection.

The aquarium owners had wanted to send the whale to SeaWorld, an aquatic theme park in San Diego, California, which is home to seven other killer whales that live in a 7 million gallon (26.5 million litre) tank.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Mexico profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• InterAction Statement on President's Renewed AIDS Plan
InterAction - USA

• American Red Cross Promotes Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis Along U.S. - Mexican Border
American Red Cross - USA

• Leader of AJWS Grantee Wins Prestigious Human Rights Award
AJWS - USA

• Catholic Relief Services commends President's call to double PEPFAR funding
CRS - USA

• World Vision U.S. Welcomes President's Global AIDS Funding Proposal
WV - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

• Pascualita, Mexico's rescued baby whale, dies

• Militants free 13 hostages in Nigerian oil delta

• UN, US exchange accusations on North Korea program

• Targeting HIV better than broad screening -study

• Male U.S. veterans have higher suicide risk -study

MORE >>

Last updated:Tue Jun 12 00:10:51 2007