Georgia Aqaurium puts Gasper to sleep....

[Leisa]

This is so sad!


ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Gasper, one of the Georgia Aquarium's five prized beluga whales, was euthanized Tuesday morning after months of declining health, officials said.

The 17-year-old whale had been ill before arriving at the aquarium in October 2005, officials said. He and his tankmate Niko had been moved to Atlanta from an amusement park in Mexico City, where Gasper had developed skin lesions while living in a tank under a roller coaster.

His immune system was weak from chronic illness, including the bone disease osteomyelitis, and medical tests showed his health had deteriorated further over the past few weeks, the aquarium said in a statement Tuesday.

The aquarium's team of veterinarians "made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the animal," according to the statement.

Hundreds of get-well wishes had flooded into the aquarium, many from schoolchildren enchanted by the ghostly white whale who had spent much of his time swimming near his tank's big window.

Georgia Aquarium chairman Bernie Marcus, said in the statement that he was saddened by the news, adding that, "We are comforted in knowing that Gasper received the finest care available in the year he was in the Georgia Aquarium."

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This

[thinkfast®]

WHY THEY GOTTA BLAME MEXICO

FUCKERS

[Julio]

Awsome !!

[Hulud]

what a way to start of the new year

doesnt get better than killing animals

[Leisa]

WHY THEY GOTTA BLAME MEXICO

FUCKERS

STFU! .. they were just stating where they got him from... shit!
.....lol

[civic95]

Now they should put the other 3 out of their misery too.


I'm sure swimming 500 laps in the same tank everyday is boring as hell for them.

[Leisa]

what a way to start of the new year

doesnt get better than killing animals

if you would have been reading about how is health was declining you would understand why they did it...

[Brett]

Here is the release from the Aquarium:

GEORGIA AQUARIUM MOURNS LOSS OF BELUGA WHALE
Gasper suffered from osteomyelitis, weak immune system

ATLANTA (Jan. 2, 2007) – The Georgia Aquarium announced today that the beloved beluga whale, Gasper, was humanely euthanized this morning. Gasper had been ill prior to arriving at the Georgia Aquarium on October 17, 2005, and the Aquarium had frequently reported on the beluga whale’s critical condition that further deteriorated over the past few weeks. Gasper’s decline was believed to be the result of his weakened immune system due to years of chronic illness.
Veterinarians, other animal and human health specialists from across the country and laboratories were engaged to assist with the complicated case. In the past few days, Gasper’s medical test results and physical condition declined rapidly. Recognizing Gasper’s failing health and with quality of life in mind, the Georgia Aquarium’s veterinarian team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the animal.
“While Billi and I, as well as all of the staff, are saddened by this news, we are comforted in knowing that Gasper received the finest care available in the year he was in the Georgia Aquarium, “ said Bernie Marcus, Georgia Aquarium benefactor and chairman of the board.

“We rescued Gasper knowing that he was seriously ill, but were hopeful that we might have been able to save him. The Georgia Aquarium will continue its important 4R Program (Rehabilitation, Relocation, Rescue and Research) to provide the highest quality of life for our inhabitants. To the thousands of people who have sent letters and cards to Gasper over the last year and want to ensure that the Georgia Aquarium will continue to provide caring services, I suggest making a contribution to the Aquarium’s 4R program or becoming annual pass members,” Marcus said.

Gasper had lived at the Georgia Aquarium since Oct. 17, 2005. Upon arrival, he was severely underweight and had visible skin lesions. He was later diagnosed with osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone. His rescue won the hearts of the Atlanta community and he entertained millions of Aquarium visitors by blowing bubbles at the beluga whale habitat window.
A beluga whale sculpture is being developed for the Georgia Aquarium entrance plaza. Aquarium guests may sign memory books located on the first and second floors of the beluga exhibit.

[eViLMunkey]

That sucks. .

[Leisa]

Now they should put the other 3 out of their misery too.


I'm sure swimming 500 laps in the same tank everyday is boring as hell for them.


dont be a meanie :(

[thinkfast®]

http://shadowdane.shackspace.com/cats_files/sandwich.jpg

[thinkfast®]

P.S THIS IS A REPOST FROM LIKE, LONG TIME AGO.. I POSTED IT HERE, LOOK

http://forums.importatlanta.com/showpost.php?p=35314251&postcount=61

BOO-YA

[Sport1.3]

no narwhal no care

[Evil Goat]

well...plenty of blubber for everyone

[thinkfast®]

WE WANNA HEAR MORE ABOUT LOCH NESS, LESS ABOUT LARD ASS NON KILLER WHALES

FREE "NOONE" WILLY GIVES A SHIT

[Hulud]

if you would have been reading about how is health was declining you would understand why they did it...
i have already read the story

i get emails from wsbtv about news storys

and i was joking anyways

[thinkfast®]

DOES THAT MEAN LOWER PRICES ON LIPSTICK

ASKING FOR A FRIEND, PLEASE REPLY ASAP

[Julio]

The aquarium is going to love this kill... They wont have to buy fish to sale in there restaurant for a good couple of month

[eViLMunkey]

Well i still haven't gone to see the aquarium. . So oh well

[thinkfast®]

The aquarium is going to love this kill... They wont have to buy fish to sale in there restaurant for a good couple of month

:lmfao:

[Leisa]

i have already read the story

i get emails from wsbtv about news storys

and i was joking anyways


ok , cool :D

[Leisa]

DOES THAT MEAN LOWER PRICES ON LIPSTICK

ASKING FOR A FRIEND, PLEASE REPLY ASAP


your head is gonna roll soon...

[srtowner]

Yeah I saw him at the Aquarium a while back. He was looking pretty bad back then. Sorry to hear they had to put the whale down.

[Brett]

We havent been yet but we have kept an eye on his progress for a while, I think its sad that he had to be put down.

[aaronfelipe]

Now they should put the other 3 out of their misery too.


I'm sure swimming 500 laps in the same tank everyday is boring as hell for them.
Imagine sitting under a rollercoaster with little or no care.

[Brett]

Yeah they suffered alot there at the amusement park in Mexico, Atleast his last year and 3 months were so much better and he lived a better life here :)

[thinkfast®]

PLUS HE DIDNT HAVE TO PAY TAXES

[thinkfast®]

OMG RICKY STOP MAN, YOU ARE ON A ROLL!

[thinkfast®]

TOO MUCH SON STOP IT!! :lmfao:

[ORGANIZATIONXIII]

damn that sucks..

I was just there too..

but I don't know which whale was Gasper..

[thinkfast®]

^^ THE UNHEALTHY ILLEGAL LOOKIN ONE

HE HAD A MUSTACHE AND HIS SOCIAL CAME BACK AS MELISSA SMITH, WE KNOW HE WAS A BEANER WHALE

[ORGANIZATIONXIII]

LIRL..

they all "looked" healthy too me..

you really can't tell, the glass is too thick :thinking:

[thinkfast®]

NAW MAN HE HAD THEM ABRASIONS ON THE BELLY FROM WHEN HE JUMPED THE RIO GRANDE

IM TELLIN YA HE WAS FRAMED

[Brett]

LIRL..

they all "looked" healthy too me..

you really can't tell, the glass is too thick :thinking:

Jasper hasnt been out in the public tanks for a while I think, he was to sick

[thinkfast®]

^^ DAMN SOMEBODY STAY UP TO DATE ON THE GA AQ. HAPPENINGS

BRETT WHATS IN STORE FOR 1ST QUARTER '07 SON, FILL US IN

[ShooterMcGavin]

no narwhal no care
lol, i wonder what aquariums out there actually have one of those...

[Fast Shadow]

Of course they killed one of the MEXICAN whales. Fucking RACISE AQUARIUM!!

You know once that aquarium stops being the new attraction it's going to fade.. people will stop going and it will lose its funding.. and then it's gonna be some run down shit and you're gonna have fucking homeless otters, sharks and shit hitting you up for change on every street corner in downtown.

[ShooterMcGavin]

great, another excuse for the beaners to take a day off :lmao:

[thinkfast®]

LOL @ FAST SHADOW, HOMELESS OTTERS FTL BISH!

[brittoknee]

LOL... damn i'm crying with laughter... WRONG.. just wrong

Gasper has been in a seperate holding tank for the last 6+ months. The tank was divided by acrylic so he could see the other 4 belugas. His appetite just never resumed back to normal.... he did gain 200lbs in the year he was in ATL though


I'm sad to hear of this loss..


but damn... think when you're not being a total ass you can be quite hilarious:eek: never thought I'd say that

[down_shift]

They could have saved a few bucks and just flushed him.

[Fast Shadow]

Video of how they're gonna send Gasper out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxBm_2Qcwho

[JMCIVIC01]

I still have yet to even go see the aquarium, but what can ya do, shit happens.

[Leisa]

me neither . unless you have a annual pass, you have to make reservations, it sucks

[thinkfast®]

um thats a negative Leisa, I had a season pass but went with some hoodrats that didnt, they were in line maybe 15 minutes. Its not opening weekend anymore dang