Whale Shark Dies at Georgia Aquarium

[tubaman]

Whale Shark Dies at Georgia Aquarium

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Atlanta (June 13, 2007) – Norton, one of the Georgia Aquarium’s original whale sharks, died early Wednesday morning, June 13, 2007.

“During the last few months, Norton stopped eating and started showing erratic swimming behavior. In response, exhaustive diagnostic tests were conducted by husbandry and veterinary staff. Supplemental care was provided to Norton, and the Georgia Aquarium team was encouraged and hopeful his condition would improve,” said Jeff Swanagan, President and Executive Director, Georgia Aquarium.

On Tuesday, husbandry staff noted a marked decline in Norton’s swimming behavior. The Georgia Aquarium husbandry and veterinary team moved to administer care, and his blood work confirmed his decline in health. A 24-hour watch was put in place, and early Wednesday morning, Norton stopped swimming and settled to the bottom. Divers brought Norton to the stretcher, where additional blood work confirmed his continued decline in health. After every option had been exhausted to improve Norton’s health, the team made the decision to humanely euthanize him.

The necropsy (animal autopsy) performed on Ralph, the Georgia Aquarium’s whale shark that died in January, showed that peritonitis, an inflammation of the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity, was the cause of death. The Aquarium husbandry and veterinary team are investigating multiple theories for any links between the deaths of the two animals.

Several months ago, the Aquarium team observed that both Ralph and Norton stopped eating within a few days of each other. One theory to this loss of appetite is a series of treatments used in 2006 to manage parasites in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. The other whale sharks did not experience this same course of treatment. The treatment is commonly used in both home and professional aquariums and was used in a conservative manner in the exhibit. As a precaution, the Aquarium stopped using this treatment after the loss of appetite was observed. The Aquarium team has not ruled out other theories.

“At this time, the exact cause of Norton’s declining health is unknown. A necropsy will be performed to study the possible causes in the decline of Norton’s health and further our understanding of whale sharks. Norton’s remains will then be cremated,” Swanagan said.

“Alice, Trixie, Taroko and Yushan are all eating well,” Swanagan added.

“It is the Aquarium’s great effort to advance the worldwide awareness and scientific knowledge of whale sharks that gives me pride and strength during this difficult time,” said Swanagan. “Our staff is grieving the loss at this time, but we are grateful that we had the opportunity to bring five million people face to face with whale sharks, increasing the knowledge base of these animals worldwide.”

The Georgia Aquarium is advancing scientific understanding of whale sharks by combining field research with in-house study through the Aquarium’s 4R Program (Rehabilitation, Relocation, Rescue and Research). Results will be released later this summer from research conducted in Mexico and Taiwan, which will give the world a better understanding of the migration patterns and feeding habits of whale sharks in their native habitats.

For additional information, please contact Public Relations.

About the Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest with more than eight million gallons of water and the largest collection of aquatic animals. The mission of the Georgia Aquarium is to be an entertaining, educational and scientific institution featuring exhibits and programs of the highest standards, offering engaging and exciting guest experiences and promoting the conservation of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world. For additional information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.

About Whale Sharks

The whale shark is the world's largest fish, reaching lengths of 30 feet or more. This species of shark, known to the scientific world as Rhincodon typus, is a gentle filter-feeding species. Found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, the whale shark is gray to brown in color with light yellow or white markings and a white belly. Despite its large size, the whale shark is harmless to humans and considered a relatively solitary creature. It has a wide mouth with approximately 3,000 small teeth at the front of its wide, flat head and swims slowly at the surface to feed on plankton and small fish. Its behavior and basic biology, such as where it travels in the oceans, reproduces and feeds during different life stages, are not well known.

Very sad to hear that this happend. I must say that the Georgia Aquarium is a very cool place to visit.

[WooferBearATL]

I was such a huge skeptic about the aquarium.

But since it's opened, it's absolutely amazing.

You can't just show up and go as you have to get and reserve a place ahead of time.

Some people get their tickets weeks ahead.

It's broken every attendance projection that they've made for the dang thing.

[Raptor66]

This is very sad. It must hurt to work with those animals and see them die like that. In addition to my summer job at KI, I also volunteer at the Newport Aquarium. I would hate to see Sweet Pea or Scooter, or any of our other animals for that matter, die. Unfortunately, no animal will last forever, and it is difficult to recreate a natural environment in an aquarium. The Georgia Aquarium's guests and staff have my condolences.

[faeriewench]

It was coming, that's why they got two more males. They were tube feeding him. Guess they learned never to use that chemical again to get rid of parasites. RIP

[Scooby_Doo]

This is just awful I hate to read stuff like this I'm a HUGE animal lover plus I'm a fish keeper I'd just like to say that aquarium is awsome its totally worth a trip I do however love newport aquarium.They got so far with housing those giant creatures a lot of people said it couldnt be done but yet it happened and lasted for a while a bit more research and soon you'll be seeing Great White Sharks in aquariums across the usa.

[tubaman]

Yea, I was watching a thing about sharks. But so far, all attempts to keep Great Whites in captivity have resulted in death within a week I believe, due to the stress one the animals.

I loved the GAq. It was an educational and fun experience. Hopefully, they will never have to face that situation again, but I guess lessons are learned from mistakes.