Bjossa dies at SeaWorld after long illness

Changing her treatment yesterday wasn't enough to save Bjossa, the ailing killer whale relocated in April from the Vancouver Aquarium to San Diego's SeaWorld.

The 25-year-old orca died late in the afternoon after what SeaWorld spokesman Bob Tucker called "a last ditch change in treatment."

Bjossa has been suffering from a chronic respiratory ailment during her last days in Vancouver. After seemingly adjusting to life in California, she had what Tucker termed "a near-death experience" Aug. 20 but survived.

Then this weekend SeaWorld staff noticed a change in Bjossa's behaviour.

"She became more lethargic," said Tucker.

An autopsy was carried out last night but Tucker said the results won't be available for several weeks.

Vancouver Aquarium spokeswoman Angela Nielsen sent out a short press release on the death yesterday. A press conference is planned for today.

"We're obviously deeply saddened by the news," said Nielsen.

But the news was what the Coalition For No Whales In Captivity had predicted.

Longtime Coalition spokeswoman Annelise Sorg was too overcome with emotion to speak to the media. But Doug Imbeau, another Coalition spokesman, blasted the aquarium for its treatment of Bjossa.

"The Coalition and Annelise have said for quite some time that the aquarium was pawning Bjossa off on SeaWorld," said Imbeau.

The bad publicity of Bjossa's death is minimized because it happened at SeaWorld, which has nine other killer whales all named Shamu, said Imbeau.

"A Shamu never dies, is what happens in San Diego," he said.

"We've cut at least 50 years out of her life expectancy by stuffing her in a bathtub."

© Copyright 2001 The Province

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Posted by:
Annelise Sorg, Director
Coalition For No Whales In Captivity
Box 461 - 1755 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6G 3B7
Tel (604) 736-9514
Fax (604) 264-0653
E-mail <annelise@direct.ca>
www.whaleprotection.org/cfnwic