Pneumonia, Bleeding Cited In Dolphin Calf Deaths
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Pneumonia and internal bleeding killed two dolphin calves at the National Aquarium.
The aquarium says post mortem test results released Friday showed the deaths of the two were unrelated. Pneumonia killed the first calf last month in Baltimore, and internal bleeding killed the second a few days later.
Up to one-third of baby dolphins don't survive their first year, whether they're born in the wild or in captivity. Of the 14 calves born at the aquarium since 1992, five died within their first year, and two more died as juveniles.
Brent R. Whitaker, the aquarium's deputy executive director for biological programs, says the only thing the two had in common was that they were both born to first-time mothers.
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