A wild porpoise that was rescued and put on life-support by the Vancouver Aquarium after it got beached on one of British Columbia's Gulf Islands has died.
Staff with the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre say the sea creature named Siyay (See-yay) stopped breathing about 5 a.m.
They immediately attempted resuscitation on the animal, which was being monitored 24 hours a day since its rare rescue three weeks ago, but the efforts failed.
A necropsy is now being conducted, with the results expected to be available at a news conference on Monday.
When the porpoise was found sick and emaciated in late April, a Salt Spring Island wildlife centre, the aquarium and police all worked together to transport it to an outdoor tank in Vancouver with hopes of its recovery.
At the time, the centre's veterinarian said the animal's chances of survival weren't good, but the rescue was considered an unusual educational opportunity because porpoises more frequently wash up dead.
