Animal welfare groups criticize aquarium after second beluga dies

The Canadian Press interviewed Andrew Trites, a professor at UBC’s marine mammal research unit, about the death of a second beluga whale housed at the Vancouver Aquarium.

He said it is rare for animals live to be their oldest possible age and both whales “beat the odds” in terms of the lifespan they achieved.

“We can point to animals in the wild living to be in their 50s and 60s but that number is often translated to mean all whales live to be in their 50s and 60s, and the reality is that it’s probably less than one per cent that live to be that old,” he said. “Most animals die young whether they’re in the wild or in captivity.”

The story appeared on MSN, the Globe and Mail, and Edmonton Sun.