The Vancouver Aquarium's two-week-old baby beluga seems to be feeling better after being diagnosed with an infection earlier this week, according to an in-house veterinarian.
The as-yet-unnamed beluga calf underwent blood tests and was given antibiotics after aquarium staff noticed the whale had an abscess near her tail on the weekend.
Aquarium veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena told CTV Newsnet the baby beluga's health seemed to improve just several hours after she was treated on Monday.
"I'd say about four or five hours after we'd treated the abscess and started the antibiotics she just looked like a brand new calf," Haulena said. "She's really active, she started using her tail normally, she's chasing her mom around and playing around. She's a lot more happy that's for sure."
Staff noticed the 50-kilogram calf became weak and was not as active as she had been previously, and drained and cleaned the abscess before putting her on antibiotics.
Haulena said that for most mammals, the first year of life can be uncertain, which is why the beluga is under round the clock observation.
"Certainly infectious disease, while I wouldn't describe it as common, is certainly something that you watch out for in a newborn animal," Haulena said.
Staff are happy with the beluga's progress yesterday and today, describing the collective feeling as 'cautiously optimistic.'
The first baby of an aquarium-born beluga in Canada, she has remained under 24-hour surveillance since her mother 13-year-old Qila gave birth on June 10th.
Scientists say the baby has a lower rate of survival because she is Qila's firstborn.
Tuvaq, the last baby beluga born at the Aquarium, died just days shy of his third birthday in July 2005.
