SeaWorld's whale dies during childbirth

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Jun 7, 2010 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM

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SeaWorld Orlando has announced that one of their pregnant killer whales has died during childbirth. Taima, a 20-year-old whale, was pregnant with a calf sired by Tilikum, the whale who killed a trainer in February. Taima died from complications of the birthing process on Sunday; the calf was stillborn. She has had three previous successful pregnancies and birth.

SeaWorld released a statement about the death. "Preliminary indications suggest that her death was caused by a condition in which the placenta is delivered before the fetus, as well as an unusual position of the fetus in the birthing canal. She was not able to deliver the stillborn fetus naturally; SeaWorld's veterinarians attempted to assist, but her complications were too severe."

An autopsy will be performed.

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