Apr 3, 2009 3:51 pm US/Central
Dolphin Dies At Brookfield Zoo After Illness
BROOKFIELD, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Kaylee, a 15-year-old dolphin, was euthanized Friday at Brookfield Zoo, officials said.
Chicago Zoological Society
Kaylee, a 15-year-old bottlenose dolphin at the Brookfield Zoo, has died, the Chicago Zoological Society announced Friday.
Zoo officials said the dolphin was euthanized – her keepers were nearby – following several weeks of declining health and loss of appetite.
Kaylee in 2006 was diagnosed with a life-threatening abscess in her lung. Although high-tech procedures are credited with saving her then, the marine mammal was left more vulnerable to recurring health problems because of scar tissue in her lung, the zoo said.
"Kaylee was one of our favorites, and our marine mammal staff is devastated by her death," said Kim Smith, the zoological society's vice president of animal care, said in a news release. "After saving her life three years ago, we knew that there was a risk that she would always be vulnerable to recurring illness, just like a human who has suffered serious health problems."
Kaylee was one of four dolphins, all of which are related, living in Seven Seas. The other three dolphins—mother Tapeko and siblings Noelani and Allison—are in good health, the zoo said. Zoo staff allowed the dolphin family to come over to one of the gates separating them from Kaylee so they could see her after she was euthanized. The dolphins spent time looking at her and vocalizing and interacting with each other, zoo officials said.
The dolphin show at Brookfield Zoo is suspended until further notice, but zoo guests can still view the dolphins from the exhibit's underwater viewing area. Any changes to the schedule will be posted on
www.CZS.org.
The zoological society manages Brookfield Zoo.
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