London Whale Died From Dehydration, Kidney Failure
Bloomberg
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London (UK):
The whale that strayed into the River Thames in central London and died during an attempt by rescuers to return it to the sea succumbed to dehydration and kidney failure, the veterinarian in charge of its autopsy said today.
The northern bottlenose whale, a juvenile female measuring 5 meters and 85 centimeters (19 feet), was probably healthy when it strayed out of its natural deep-water habitat in the Atlantic and into the shallower waters of the North Sea, Paul Jepson, of the Zoological Society of London, said at a press conference. Unable to feed, she became dehydrated, he said.
``When she entered the North Sea, she was probably a very fit and healthy whale,'' Jepson said. ``The ultimate cause of death is believed to be the result of a combination of factors including severe dehydration, some muscle damage and reduction of kidney function.''
Crowds lined the banks and bridges of the Thames on Jan. 21 as rescuers winched the whale onto a barge and took it downriver to the mouth of the river in a seven-hour attempt to save the mammal.
Jan 25, 2006
Bloomberg
_______
London (UK):
The whale that strayed into the River Thames in central London and died during an attempt by rescuers to return it to the sea succumbed to dehydration and kidney failure, the veterinarian in charge of its autopsy said today.
The northern bottlenose whale, a juvenile female measuring 5 meters and 85 centimeters (19 feet), was probably healthy when it strayed out of its natural deep-water habitat in the Atlantic and into the shallower waters of the North Sea, Paul Jepson, of the Zoological Society of London, said at a press conference. Unable to feed, she became dehydrated, he said.
``When she entered the North Sea, she was probably a very fit and healthy whale,'' Jepson said. ``The ultimate cause of death is believed to be the result of a combination of factors including severe dehydration, some muscle damage and reduction of kidney function.''
Crowds lined the banks and bridges of the Thames on Jan. 21 as rescuers winched the whale onto a barge and took it downriver to the mouth of the river in a seven-hour attempt to save the mammal.
Jan 25, 2006
