A popular 12-year-old beluga whale, Kimalu, living among eight other whales at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, underwent a groundbreaking surgery after being placed under general anesthesia in order to remove several cysts growing dangerously close to her blowhole and on her neck.
According to the video posted by the aquarium, 30 experts from Shedd as well as from across the country took part in the procedure on Tuesday. (See video below)
Here’s the amazing part:
in the process, Kimalu became the first known beluga in the world to recover from general anesthesia.
Kimalu was born at the aquarium, and recently her caretakers and veterinarians had noticed a change in her behavior and level of activity. An examination and CT scan revealed the cysts that experts said had been causing her pain.
Placing a 1,000 pound animal under general anesthesia has only been performed once, and although the surgery was a success, Kimahu remains in guarded condition. Tests are currently being run on the cysts, and are not suspected to have been cancerous. In the past, while still a baby, the whale had been treated for a similar condition.
Meanwhile, Kimahu is being kept separate from her beluga friends while she rests and recuperates.
Get well soon Kimahu.
Check out the video:
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