Baby beluga whale dies at SeaWorld Orlando shortly after birth due to unknown causes even though mother had a 'normal and healthy' pregnancy

  • The baby beluga 'surfaced only briefly before sinking to the bottom of the pool'
  • Whisper, the mother, is 'active and alert' and will be monitored around-the-clock
  • A full post-mortem examination will be conducted with results unavailable for several weeks
  • SeaWorld Orlando was a source of controversy in 2010 when an orca whale killed a trainer during a live show 

By Mary Kekatos For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

A newborn beluga born last week at SeaWorld Orlando has died due to unknown causes.

The 'unusually weak calf surfaced only briefly before sinking to the bottom of the pool,' park officials said Friday in a statement.

SeaWorld staff provided emergency aid but were unable to save the baby whale.

A newborn beluga born last week at SeaWorld Orlando to 17-year-old mother Whisper (pictured) has died due to unknown causes, park officials announced on Friday  

A newborn beluga born last week at SeaWorld Orlando to 17-year-old mother Whisper (pictured) has died due to unknown causes, park officials announced on Friday  

The 'unusually weak calf surfaced only briefly before sinking to the bottom of the pool,' SeaWorld officials said Friday in a statement. Staff provided emergency aid but were unable to save the baby whale (Pictured, SeaWorld Orlando)

The 'unusually weak calf surfaced only briefly before sinking to the bottom of the pool,' SeaWorld officials said Friday in a statement. Staff provided emergency aid but were unable to save the baby whale (Pictured, SeaWorld Orlando)

According to officials, the calf's 17-year-old mother, Whisper, had a normal and healthy pregnancy.

'Whisper received routine ultrasounds and health assessments to monitor her and the calf's progress throughout the pregnancy, which progressed as expected,' officials said.

'Additionally, there were no obvious signs of complications during labor and everything other wise [sic] appeared to progress normally.'

Whisper, who has lived at the Florida park since 2010, is 'active and alert', according to the statement, but she will continue to be monitored around-the-clock to make sure she is healthy. 

The park will conduct a full post-mortem examination to attempt to determine what caused the baby beluga's death. Results will not be available for several weeks, however.

Officials say Whisper had a normal and healthy pregnancy. She will continue to be monitored around-the-clock to ensure she's healthy (file image)

Officials say Whisper had a normal and healthy pregnancy. She will continue to be monitored around-the-clock to ensure she's healthy (file image)

This is not the first time SeaWorld Orlando has been thrust into the spotlight. In 2010, senior animal trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by orca whale Tilikum (not pictured). Brancheau became the only SeaWorld trainer killed

This is not the first time SeaWorld Orlando has been thrust into the spotlight. In 2010, senior animal trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by orca whale Tilikum (not pictured). Brancheau became the only SeaWorld trainer killed

This is not the first time SeaWorld Orlando has been thrust into the spotlight.

In 2010, senior animal trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by orca whale Tilikum. Brancheau became the only SeaWorld trainer killed by an animal, but the third fatality associated with Tilikum,

After the 2013 documentary Blackfish brought Brancheau's death to national attention, SeaWorld decided to cancel the controversial orca-breeding program.

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