SeaWorld whale calf Kyara showing possible signs of pneumonia

SAN ANTONIO — A whale calf at SeaWorld is showing possible signs of pneumonia.

SeaWorld officials say Takara’s 3-month-old calf, Kyara, is now being treated at the animal hospital at SeaWorld San Antonio. Pneumonia is one of the most common causes of illness or morbidity in whales and dolphins.

SeaWorld says that the first several months for whale and dolphin calves are especially critical, so they are taking every precaution. To ensure Kyara can receive the best possible care and treatment, a team has taken over feeding her at the husbandry pool at the animal hospital until her health is stabilized. They say their goal is to return her back to Takara and to reunite mom and calf with the rest of the pod as soon as possible.

Questions and Answers from SeaWorld concerning Kyara:

Do you know what illness she has?

Through monitoring Kyara’s behavior, and a physical examination, SeaWorld’s veterinary and animal care teams identified that she has an infection, likely pneumonia, that they are now treating her for. Pneumonia has been identified as one of the most common causes of morbidity or illness in whales and dolphins, both in the wild and in aquariums. Unlike whales and dolphins in the wild, Kyara has an experienced veterinary team treating her 24/7 and doing everything possible to get her healthy again.

Why did you remove Kyara from her mom?

Our primary concern is the health of Kyara. The expert veterinary and animal care teams made the decision to bring Kyara to the husbandry pool at the animal Hospital to ensure she received the necessary treatment and medication. Additionally, Kyara was not receiving the daily nutrition that she needs for her health and recovery, so the teams will be providing that nutrition through hand-feeding her multiple times each day. Our goal is to ensure that Kyara gets healthy as quickly as possible, and as soon as she is ready, get her back with her mom, Takara, as well as the rest of the orca pod.

Where is Kyara now?

Kyara is in the husbandry pool at the animal hospital at SeaWorld San Antonio, where she is receiving 24-hour care by SeaWorld’s expert veterinary and animal care staff.

How are you treating her?

Kyara is under 24-hr care and watch at the animal hospital at SeaWorld San Antonio. In addition to monitoring her 24/7, the expert veterinary staff is treating her with antibiotics for the suspected pneumonia. Additionally, the team has taken over feeding the calf until her health has stabilized. Providing care and nutrition for a killer whale calf requires highly specialized skill and expertise. SeaWorld’s team of veterinarians and husbandry specialists have helped hand-raise three killer whale calves successfully, and we are focusing all our attention and resources on this calf.

Do you plan on reintroducing her to the rest of the orca pod?

Yes, our primary goal is to ensure that Kyara gets healthy as quickly as possible. As soon as she is ready, the team will work to get her back with her mom, Takara, as well as the rest of the orca pod.

How is her mom, Takara, and the rest of the pod doing?

Takara and the rest of the pod are responding well. While Kyara is being treated at the animal hospital at SeaWorld San Antonio, the killer whale trainers and animal care teams continue to care for the rest of the orca pod back at Shamu Stadium.

Is there any chance other killer whales will get this illness?

No other members of the SeaWorld San Antonio orca pod are showing any signs of illness, but they continued to be monitored and cared for by SeaWorld’s expert veterinary and animal care teams.