SeaWorld Loses Second Whale
In Past Eight Months

Monday, June 16, 2008
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - A 2 1/2 year old killer whale died Sunday night at SeaWorld San Antonio, becoming the second orca to die at the theme park in the past eight months.

Early Monday, SeaWorld officials said the female killer whale named Halyn died unexpectedly.

But SeaWorld spokeswoman Fran Stephenson said Monday evening that the whale had been under a 24-hour watch and was on two courses of treatment after her behavior changed earlier in the weekend. She said she didn't know what those changes were.

Tissue samples from the whale will be examined to establish a cause of death, she said, but that will take about six weeks.

"While we recognize that death is part of the life cycle, we are saddened over the unexpected loss of this animal," a SeaWorld press release said.

Halyn was one of five killer whales at SeaWorld San Antonio's Shamu Theater, but Stephenson said Halyn didn't perform regularly because she was young.

The whale was, however, featured in educational presentations and behind-the-scenes tours.

The death comes almost eight months after Taku, a 14-year-old male orca, died Oct. 17 at the park.

Officials said that death was unexpected as well. Tests showed Taku died of pneumonia, a respiratory infection.

Source: The Houston Chronicle