Nanuq, a beloved beluga whale at SeaWorld Orlando, died after being treated for injuries from fighting with another whale.
SeaWorld says the cause of Nanuq's death is "unknown" pending an examination -- but it admitted on Facebook that Nanuq had been treated for an infection and fractured jaw sustained fighting with another male beluga.
We need the U.S. Department of Agriculture to launch a formal investigation into Nanuq's death to see if the Animal Welfare Act was violated.
SeaWorld has been down this road before: Last year the park was found to be in violation of the Act due to expired veterinary materials and the condition of an animal enclosure. The 2013 film "Blackfish" shined a light on SeaWorld's captive mammal program, causing massive public outcry.
Still, the USDA hasn't launched a formal investigation into Nanuq's death, saying only that it is "looking into" the matter.
When whales already living their lives in painful captivity are dying violently, half-measures are unacceptable.
Take action -- call on the USDA to launch a full investigation into Nanuq's death.
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
I am writing to urge you to direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to open a full investigation into the death of Nanuq, the beluga whale that died recently at SeaWorld Orlando.
[Your comment will be added here]
SeaWorld was found by APHIS to be in violation of the Animal Welfare Act last year and, as I'm sure you're aware, the company has drawn strong criticism for its captive mammal program -- notably through the film "Blackfish," which caused considerable public outcry.
Nanuq, as SeaWorld Orlando has openly admitted on its Facebook page, died after receiving medical treatment for an infection stemming from a fractured jaw this male beluga sustained while fighting with another male beluga that was supposedly part of a "compatible social group."
Obviously that wasn't the case, and now a rare whale, kept captive for most of its life, is dead.
Yet APHIS has not opened a formal investigation into Nanuq's death, saying only that it will "look into" the matter.
This is unacceptable. Nanuq and all captive sea mammals deserve better. As this whale"s death indicates, the situation is dire.
Please direct APHIS to conduct a full, formal investigation into Nanuq's death and to pursue the strictest penalties if violations of the Animal Welfare Act are revealed.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
