Nala..dead

[asoomal]

http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content ... 02762/111/

VANCOUVER - A beluga calf born to much fanfare last summer at the Vancouver Aquarium has died.

Nala was born June 7, 2009, to Aurora, the aquarium's 20-year-old female beluga. She was the second whale calf born at the aquarium in recent years and her birth was broadcast around the world.

But the aquarium announced Tuesday that Nala had died after a two-week illness.

Veterinarian Martin Haulena said staff found two small stones and a penny in a small sack near the baby beluga's esophagus, a "bizarre phenomenon" they had not seen before.

Haulena said they don't yet know whether the sack was a natural part of her anatomy or not, and they are consulting with other aquariums around the world. So far, none have seen a similar case.

The veterinarian said the sack became inflamed and the whale was struggling to breath as fluid accumulated in her lungs.

"I'm still wracking my brain trying to figure out what we could have done about it," Haulena said at a news conference at the aquarium.

"I'm working very, very closely with the pathologist and I'm still working very, very closely with my colleagues around the world to figure out if anyone's ever seen anything like this."

Haulena noted the stones could have been dropped by birds but the penny was likely thrown into the pool by a visitor, despite signs warning visitors not to toss anything in the whale pools.

Nala was part of a mini baby boom at the aquarium, where Aurora's grown calf Qila calved the year before.

It's not the first time a whale has died at the facility. Aurora gave birth to a male calf named Tuvaq in the summer of 2002 but he died three years later.

There are now five beluga whales remaining at the Vancouver aquarium.

[MellowZ32]

[MinisterofDOOM]

Nala is the new "unamused" smiley.

[lino]

[Razi]

I came in here happy, now I'm disappointed. :\

[Bubba1]

When I saw the words Beluga and Nala, I initially thought Nala tried something perverted with his portly prom date.

[naladude911]

o that sucks. I remember seeing those whales as a kid.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Can you guess which one is Nala?

[sentrastace]

[AppleBonker]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEdfvXqUssk[/youtube]

[Bubba1]

Can you guess which one is Nala?

usually the one farthest away from the girls....

[numbnuts240]

usually the one farthest away from the girls....

holy s***, you're right!!!!!!!! dammit nala, even in pics, you can't stop failing. where's mellow with that pic of your dad?

[AppleBonker]

usually the one farthest away from the girls....

holy s***, you're right!!!!!!!! dammit nala, even in pics, you can't stop failing. where's mellow with that pic of your dad?

[numbnuts240]

that be the one.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

You guys better be careful! Nala knows teh karate!!!!!

[sentrastace]

LMFAO ADAM.
my skills are lacking at my work computer

[Urabus GodofTraction]

I don't know where I was when these pictures first appeared, but goddamn is that some funny s*** right there!

[snwbrdr435]

hahahaha

[HashiriyaS14]

Is it just me, or does Nala look like Itsuki from Initial D?

[tiger-SE-R]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEdfvXqUssk[/youtube]

Adam

you have the nack for finding the most random shiz

[AppleBonker]

Adam

you have the nack for finding the most random shiz

That just so happens to be one of my favorite youtube videos of all time. And, Stacey's beautiful artwork reminded me of it.

[MellowZ32]

holy s***, you're right!!!!!!!! dammit nala, even in pics, you can't stop failing. where's mellow with that pic of your dad?

[93coupe]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEdfvXqUssk[/youtube]

This is phenomenal.

[themadscientist]

MAGNUM..........

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Don't be silly! It's definitely blue steel!

[themadscientist]

It's one look!

[sldewyz]

LMAO thats great right there

[Jesda]

This thread

[danshaz82]

i r drunk

[ThatGuyRoger]

OMFG!! WIN!!! bahahahahaha