Baby Whale in Guarded Condition
A baby gray whale that beached itself at Santa Barbara was listed in guarded condition Friday as Sea World marine mammal specialists provided the same kind of 24-hour treatment that nursed another beached whale back to health earlier this year.
“We are very concerned about this second gray whale calf,” said veterinarian Tom Reidarson. “She is passive and is not responding with a sucking response when we feed her.”
The 16-foot-long, 3,000-pound whale is emaciated, severely dehydrated and suffering an internal infection.
She is being cared for in the same pool where J.J., a baby gray whale that beached itself at Los Angeles’ Venice Beach in January, was treated. The latest whale, thought to be about 3 months old, was brought to Sea World by truck early Friday.
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