Over the weekend we shared the Vancouver Aquarium's photo (below) on our Facebook Page with the caption "Cutest ever!". It got hundreds of Likes and I was psyched when they expanded, explained what's going on in it, and why it's so awesome.
Pictured is a baby false killer whale calf being bottle fed at their Marine Mammal Rescue Centre. After being rescued last Thursday, their team has provided around-the-clock, hands-on care to save its life.
Aquarium head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena notes "This animal was suffering when it was stranded on the beach and we have helped to end its suffering. Since arriving 3 days ago, this little whale has contributed some really important information. First of all, how many people out there had ever heard of a false killer whale? Even some government employees couldn't identify it properly. We have had world false killer whale experts visit to see one up close, we have trained veterinarians and veterinary students in emergency cetacean medicine, we have requests for vocal recordings and baseline measurements of this animal have been invaluable for describing the natural history of this rare species in BC. Most importantly, we care about animals and their environment. We want to get better at what we do."
I'm a volunteer with the Vancouver Aquarium, V.I.A. is a sponsor of their Ocean Wise program and we support all of the important work that they do in effecting the conservation of aquatic life.
