The National Aquarium lost a lifelong resident on Sunday.
Aquarium officials said Maya, a bottlenose dolphin born at the National Aquarium in 2001, was euthanized due to declining health. She was 18.
“Maya was a cherished member of our National Aquarium family, and we are heartbroken to lose her,” aquarium CEO John Racanelli said in a statement. “We have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from the community and appreciate everyone’s compassion during this difficult time for our staff, our dolphins and our guests.”
Concerns about Maya’s health go back to March, when she showed signs of illness including loss of appetite. She improved with a combination of fluids supplemented with vitamins, electrolytes and medications, but she took a turn the following month. Veterinary staff found inflammation throughout her body and determined her liver was not functioning properly, leading to issues in her digestive system. They ran further tests, including a liver biopsy, and consulted with experts nationwide.
Her health nevertheless continued to deteriorate. On Saturday morning, Maya was unable to keep food down and her breathing was elevated. On Sunday, aquarium officials made the decision to euthanize her and prevent further pain or suffering.
Maya was the third oldest of the aquarium’s dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins generally have a lifespan of 40 to 60 years. Johns Hopkins will conduct a necropsy, officials said.
The aquarium is home to six other Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. The aquarium is planning an ocean water dolphin sanctuary to house them, the first of its kind in North America. In the meantime, preparations are underway to transition the pod to a more naturalistic setting in the coming years, officials said.
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