New clues into porpoise’s death
Posted May 16, 2011 12:52 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – We’re learning more about the death of a wild harbour porpoise rescued off Salt Spring Island late last month.
Veterinarian Martin Haulena says Siyay had been under 24-hour care before dying of a brain infection early Sunday morning.
“He stopped breathing at around 5:07 a.m. The veterinarian technician that was on duty as well as some volunteer staff under my direction did go ahead and try and resuscitate, but he had already passed away.”
He adds the case represented a first for the Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. “The big surprise and the cause of why he was sick and also the cause of his mortality is hydrocephalus which is accumulation of fluid within the brain.”
Siyay had only been given a 10 per cent chance of survival when he arrived at the facility.
