Unknown virus, toxin likely killed belgua whale at Vancouver Aquarium

An unknown virus or toxin is likely the reason a beluga whale died at the Vancouver Aquarium in British Columbia, according to CBC News.

Chief veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena said significant liver damage was detected in the 30-year-old female beluga, Aurora.

"The liver was dramatically compromised, although interestingly enough, that did not show up on any blood work that we did on Aurora, and we had blood work done every day," Haulena said.

"The most likely culprit for this is a virus or a toxin given the course of disease and the lack of significant findings in clinical diagnostics [and] early postmortem results," he said.

Aurora died on Nov. 25 and her 21-year-old calf died nine days before; the deaths appear to be connected, according to the aquarium. 

CBC News asked about possible poisoning, but Haulena replied, "Right now we have no obvious sign of mortality ... I will stress that nothing is off the table now."

The Vancouver Aquarium has six belugas on loan to other marine facilities. The aquarium’s beluga pool will remain empty until investigators determine how the whales died.

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