robosapien
Member
Taken from the Georgiaquairum.org website.
ATLANTA (Jan. 13, 2007) – On Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, the Georgia Aquarium completed the twelve-hour necropsy (animal autopsy) on Ralph, one of its four whale sharks, who died unexpectantly the prior day. The procedure was completed by twenty scientists, including Georgia Aquarium veterinary and husbandry staff, University of Georgia pathologists and shark experts from Florida. Based on the time and resources used for the procedure, this is believed to be the most in depth necropsy ever completed on a whale shark.
The samples taken from the necropsy are currently being analyzed. While the cause of death will take weeks to months to study, scientists have already learned that whale sharks have a different mechanism to control eye movement and a much more complex way of filtering water to catch food than previously believed.
“Ralph will continue to teach us things for years to come,” said Tim Binder, Director of Husbandry. “Samples taken from the necropsy will be stored at temperatures of -80 degrees Fahrenheit, so that they can be studied today as well as decades from now.”
The necropsy also indicated that Ralph weighed approximately one ton, which is in line with Taiwanese fisheries data for a whale shark measuring twenty-one and a half feet.
We lost a family member,” said Ray Davis, Senior Vice President of Zoological Operations. “The good news from this situation is that the science involved can be applied to the conservation of the species as a whole.”
The Georgia Aquarium will use the information from the necropsy and the resulting science to advance whale shark care at the Georgia Aquarium, as well as share the information with facilities in Asia.
I plan to follow this story very closely over the next few months. I"m also hoping to sign on as a volunteer. =D
ATLANTA (Jan. 13, 2007) – On Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, the Georgia Aquarium completed the twelve-hour necropsy (animal autopsy) on Ralph, one of its four whale sharks, who died unexpectantly the prior day. The procedure was completed by twenty scientists, including Georgia Aquarium veterinary and husbandry staff, University of Georgia pathologists and shark experts from Florida. Based on the time and resources used for the procedure, this is believed to be the most in depth necropsy ever completed on a whale shark.
The samples taken from the necropsy are currently being analyzed. While the cause of death will take weeks to months to study, scientists have already learned that whale sharks have a different mechanism to control eye movement and a much more complex way of filtering water to catch food than previously believed.
“Ralph will continue to teach us things for years to come,” said Tim Binder, Director of Husbandry. “Samples taken from the necropsy will be stored at temperatures of -80 degrees Fahrenheit, so that they can be studied today as well as decades from now.”
The necropsy also indicated that Ralph weighed approximately one ton, which is in line with Taiwanese fisheries data for a whale shark measuring twenty-one and a half feet.
We lost a family member,” said Ray Davis, Senior Vice President of Zoological Operations. “The good news from this situation is that the science involved can be applied to the conservation of the species as a whole.”
The Georgia Aquarium will use the information from the necropsy and the resulting science to advance whale shark care at the Georgia Aquarium, as well as share the information with facilities in Asia.
I plan to follow this story very closely over the next few months. I"m also hoping to sign on as a volunteer. =D
