Husbandry and hand-rearing of a rehabilitating California gray whale calf
-
Published source details
Bruehler G.L., DiRocco S., Ryan T. & Robinson K. (2001) Husbandry and hand-rearing of a rehabilitating California gray whale calf. Aquatic Mammals, 27, 222-227.
Published source details Bruehler G.L., DiRocco S., Ryan T. & Robinson K. (2001) Husbandry and hand-rearing of a rehabilitating California gray whale calf. Aquatic Mammals, 27, 222-227.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Hand-rear orphaned or abandoned marine and freshwater mammal young Action Link |
 |
-
Hand-rear orphaned or abandoned marine and freshwater mammal young
A study in 1997–1998 at an aquarium in San Diego, USA (Bruehler et al. 2001) found that an orphaned California gray whale Eschrichtius robustus calf reared in captivity survived for over 14 months and increased in body weight and length. Between September 1997 and March 1998, the whale calf increased in body weight (4,800–8,200 kg) and length (7.5–9.2 m). The female calf was brought into captivity in September 1997 and fed warm water and dextrose via a stomach tube followed by an artificial milk formula every 2 h for the first three days. This was replaced with a mixture of herring Clupea spp., milk formula, amino acid supplements, water and cream, which the calf suckled through a tube during seven feeding sessions/day. After 7–8 months, the calf was weaned onto solid food (small fish, squid and krill) fed at least four times/day. The calf was kept in a holding pool (9.1 m deep) and enrichment was provided (kelp and marine invertebrates).
(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
