VANCOUVER—Another beluga whale has died. Kavna, whale that inspired Raffi's 'Baby Beluga,' dies at Vancouver Aquarium
At 46 years old, Kavna was the oldest beluga at the aquarium, perhaps nearing the end of her life, but the cause of death won't be known until a full necropsy is done. Aquarium staff say 46-year-old Kavna had been displaying some behavioural changes recently, and a series of tests were being done to find out why.
A veterinarian at the Aquarium says Kavna appears to have died of cancer associated with old age. Dr. Martin Haulena says the whale's health declined in the past week as fluid and other debris built up in its reproductive system.
He says the whale initially responded to hormone treatment, but the mammal died Monday afternoon. The exact cause of death won't be known until a full necropsy is done.
On Monday night, Canadian singer Raffi, who wrote "Baby Beluga" after meeting Kavna in 1979, tweeted about his sadness at learning of the whale's death.
'Just heard the news, sad she's gone. Loved meeting her in '79 - gave me a kiss, inspired a song now known to millions!' he wrote.
Last September, three-year-old Tiqa died from heart failure that was induced by pneumonia. She was the third beluga calf to die at the aquarium since 2005.
Haulena notes belugas have an average lifespan of 25 to 30 years in the wild and Kavna far outlived that.
Kavna arrived at the Vancouver Aquarium in 1976 after being captured off Churchill, Manitoba.
Kavna, the Vancouver Aquarium's first beluga whale, was captured pregnant in the wild and came to the aquarium in 1976, giving birth in 1977 to a calf who died at four months old. Kavna herself died at the aquarium in August 2012 of cancer. Children's entertainer Raffi was inspired to write the song Baby Beluga after meeting Kavna in 1979.
Two male belugas, Nanuq and Imaq, were taken from Hudson Bay in the 1980s and brought to the aquarium. Nanuq would go on to sire Qila, the first beluga born in captivity. Qila's mother, Aurora, was taken from the wild at about age three in 1990. Aurora gave birth to a second calf, Tuvaq, in 2002. Tuvaq died three years later.
Qila herself gave birth to a calf, Tiqa, in June 2008, fathered by Imaq. Tiqa died in September 2011 of an infection. Imaq would go on to father a calf in 2009 with Qila's mother, Aurora. That calf, Nala, died a year later, with stones and a coin blocking her larynx.
Nanuq was moved to Orlando Seaworld in 1997 for breeding purposes, where he died in February 2015 of a broken jaw suffered in an encounter with other animals. He was 31 or 32 years old.
Imaq was moved in 2011 on breeding loan to SeaWorld San Antonio, Texas. A calf he sired there died at three weeks old in July 2015.
On breeding loan to SeaWorld, Shedd Aquarium & Georgia Aquarium are the following:
Allua, a female beluga is around 24 years of age. She was moved to SeaWorld San Diego on a breeding loan in 2005.
Imaq, a male beluga who is around 21 years of age. He is on breeding loan to SeaWorld San Antonio for around 5 years due to the aquarium's renovation.
Grayson, a male beluga who is 8 years old living at the Shedd Aquarium. He was born at SeaWorld San Antonio in 2007, but belongs to the Vancouver Aquarium as he was born to Nanuq, who was owned by the aquarium and also fathered Qila. Until early 2016, Grayson was living at the Georgia Aquarium with his half-sister Qinu.
Qinu, a female beluga born in 2010 who is 7 years of age living at the Georgia Aquarium. She was also born at SeaWorld San Antonio and lived with Grayson until he was moved to the Shedd Aquarium. As with Grayson, she was born to Nanuq and belongs to the Vancouver Aquarium.
Kavna, the baby beluga whale who inspired children's songwriter Raffi to write a song about an imaginary whale named "Baby Beluga," has died at age 46.
Kavna died from a possible cancer-related illness on August 6, at the Vancouver Aquarium, where she had lived since 1975. Kavna was estimated to be 46 years old and had spent most of her life in captivity. Beluga whales usually live from 25 to 30 years.
During a preliminary autopsy, Vancouver Aquarium veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena discovered cancerous lesions and suspects that they contributed to Kavna's death.
"Right now, the lesions are most consistent with a cancer, and that is unfortunately a disease we associate with age," Haulena told the Vancouver Sun on August 7. "So we're looking at a great life for a great whale who had almost nothing wrong with her."
Raffi Cavoukian wrote the hugely popular children's song "Baby Beluga" after meeting Kavna in 1979. The song tells of an imaginary beluga's life in the "deep blue sea."
"It was my first time at the aquarium, and I was very fortunate that I got to be taken pool-side and the trainer helped me play with Kavna," Cavoukian said on August 7. "She was just so beautiful. She was so playful and she had a very pure spirit and you could swear she smiled at you."
Cavoukian spent much of the week assuring fans that Baby Beluga did not pass away, as she is an imaginary whale, but mourned the beloved beluga who inspired his 1979 hit.
"Kavna will be missed by all who knew her. LOVED meeting her in '79, the magnificent 16 yr old beluga whale who inspired Baby Beluga," Raffi Tweeted on August 6, adding later, "Thanks for all your love - KAVNA had a profound impact on me. Her voice is likely in the intro and close of the Baby Beluga recording."
OnTheRedCarpet.com 08/09/2012
The beluga whale that inspired the Raffi Cavoukian classic, "Baby Beluga", has died.
Kavna the whale reportedly died from a possible cancer-related illness, the Huffington Post reported.
The 46-year-old whale lived a long and happy life in the Vancouver Aquarium. In fact, Aquarium workers told The Canadian Press that belugas typically live 25 to 30 years. Aquarium officials even believe that Kavna may have been even older than her estimated age.
VANCOUVER—Another beluga whale has died. Kavna, whale that inspired Raffi's 'Baby Beluga,' dies at Vancouver Aquarium
At 46 years old, Kavna was the oldest beluga at the aquarium, perhaps nearing the end of her life, but the cause of death won't be known until a full necropsy is done. Aquarium staff say 46-year-old Kavna had been displaying some behavioural changes recently, and a series of tests were being done to find out why.
A veterinarian at the Aquarium says Kavna appears to have died of cancer associated with old age. Dr. Martin Haulena says the whale's health declined in the past week as fluid and other debris built up in its reproductive system.
He says the whale initially responded to hormone treatment, but the mammal died Monday afternoon. The exact cause of death won't be known until a full necropsy is done.
On Monday night, Canadian singer Raffi, who wrote "Baby Beluga" after meeting Kavna in 1979, tweeted about his sadness at learning of the whale's death.
'Just heard the news, sad she's gone. Loved meeting her in '79 - gave me a kiss, inspired a song now known to millions!' he wrote.
Last September, three-year-old Tiqa died from heart failure that was induced by pneumonia. She was the third beluga calf to die at the aquarium since 2005.
Haulena notes belugas have an average lifespan of 25 to 30 years in the wild and Kavna far outlived that.
Kavna arrived at the Vancouver Aquarium in 1976 after being captured off Churchill, Manitoba.
Kavna, the Vancouver Aquarium's first beluga whale, was captured pregnant in the wild and came to the aquarium in 1976, giving birth in 1977 to a calf who died at four months old. Kavna herself died at the aquarium in August 2012 of cancer. Children's entertainer Raffi was inspired to write the song Baby Beluga after meeting Kavna in 1979.
Two male belugas, Nanuq and Imaq, were taken from Hudson Bay in the 1980s and brought to the aquarium. Nanuq would go on to sire Qila, the first beluga born in captivity. Qila's mother, Aurora, was taken from the wild at about age three in 1990. Aurora gave birth to a second calf, Tuvaq, in 2002. Tuvaq died three years later.
Qila herself gave birth to a calf, Tiqa, in June 2008, fathered by Imaq. Tiqa died in September 2011 of an infection. Imaq would go on to father a calf in 2009 with Qila's mother, Aurora. That calf, Nala, died a year later, with stones and a coin blocking her larynx.
Nanuq was moved to Orlando Seaworld in 1997 for breeding purposes, where he died in February 2015 of a broken jaw suffered in an encounter with other animals. He was 31 or 32 years old.
Imaq was moved in 2011 on breeding loan to SeaWorld San Antonio, Texas. A calf he sired there died at three weeks old in July 2015.
On breeding loan to SeaWorld, Shedd Aquarium & Georgia Aquarium are the following:
Allua, a female beluga is around 24 years of age. She was moved to SeaWorld San Diego on a breeding loan in 2005.
Imaq, a male beluga who is around 21 years of age. He is on breeding loan to SeaWorld San Antonio for around 5 years due to the aquarium's renovation.
Grayson, a male beluga who is 8 years old living at the Shedd Aquarium. He was born at SeaWorld San Antonio in 2007, but belongs to the Vancouver Aquarium as he was born to Nanuq, who was owned by the aquarium and also fathered Qila. Until early 2016, Grayson was living at the Georgia Aquarium with his half-sister Qinu.
Qinu, a female beluga born in 2010 who is 7 years of age living at the Georgia Aquarium. She was also born at SeaWorld San Antonio and lived with Grayson until he was moved to the Shedd Aquarium. As with Grayson, she was born to Nanuq and belongs to the Vancouver Aquarium.
Kavna, the baby beluga whale who inspired children's songwriter Raffi to write a song about an imaginary whale named "Baby Beluga," has died at age 46.
Kavna died from a possible cancer-related illness on August 6, at the Vancouver Aquarium, where she had lived since 1975. Kavna was estimated to be 46 years old and had spent most of her life in captivity. Beluga whales usually live from 25 to 30 years.
During a preliminary autopsy, Vancouver Aquarium veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena discovered cancerous lesions and suspects that they contributed to Kavna's death.
"Right now, the lesions are most consistent with a cancer, and that is unfortunately a disease we associate with age," Haulena told the Vancouver Sun on August 7. "So we're looking at a great life for a great whale who had almost nothing wrong with her."
Raffi Cavoukian wrote the hugely popular children's song "Baby Beluga" after meeting Kavna in 1979. The song tells of an imaginary beluga's life in the "deep blue sea."
"It was my first time at the aquarium, and I was very fortunate that I got to be taken pool-side and the trainer helped me play with Kavna," Cavoukian said on August 7. "She was just so beautiful. She was so playful and she had a very pure spirit and you could swear she smiled at you."
Cavoukian spent much of the week assuring fans that Baby Beluga did not pass away, as she is an imaginary whale, but mourned the beloved beluga who inspired his 1979 hit.
"Kavna will be missed by all who knew her. LOVED meeting her in '79, the magnificent 16 yr old beluga whale who inspired Baby Beluga," Raffi Tweeted on August 6, adding later, "Thanks for all your love - KAVNA had a profound impact on me. Her voice is likely in the intro and close of the Baby Beluga recording."
OnTheRedCarpet.com 08/09/2012
The beluga whale that inspired the Raffi Cavoukian classic, "Baby Beluga", has died.
Kavna the whale reportedly died from a possible cancer-related illness, the Huffington Post reported.
The 46-year-old whale lived a long and happy life in the Vancouver Aquarium. In fact, Aquarium workers told The Canadian Press that belugas typically live 25 to 30 years. Aquarium officials even believe that Kavna may have been even older than her estimated age.
Gravesite Details
Death at Vancouver Aquarium
9th Aug 2012 given to medical science team.
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