SeaWorld San Antonio selected as new home for endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale

A beluga whale named Tyonek, seen in a courtesy image provided Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 by SeaWorld public relations, is on its way to SeaWorld San Antonio after being rescued in Alaska. A beluga whale named Tyonek, seen in a courtesy image provided Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 by SeaWorld public relations, is on its way to SeaWorld San Antonio after being rescued in Alaska. Photo: COURTESY, COURTESY / COURTESY Photo: COURTESY, COURTESY / COURTESY Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close SeaWorld San Antonio selected as new home for endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

An endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale that was rescued off the coast of Alaska in late 2017 will have a new home at SeaWorld San Antonio, park officials said Sunday.

Tyonek was found weak and was stranded for several hours in September off the Alaskan coast, according to officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. Found when he was less than a month old, his mother either abandoned Tyonek, or she died, experts from the Alaska SeaLife Center said.

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NOAA announced late last week SeaWorld San Antonio was selected to house Tyonek because of the “facility’s ability to accommodate his social and medical needs, support all necessary transport and contribute to scientific research on the species to help conservation efforts in the wild.”

Because the park currently houses 9 other beluga whales, the opportunity for growth and social development was seen as great in San Antonio.

“The permanent placement of Tyonek at SeaWorld San Antonio—and the scientific knowledge gained by learning from him for years to come—will benefit Cook Inlet beluga research and recovery,” NOAA Fisheries said in a blog statement.

As Tyonek lacked the socialization and survival skills needed to be successful in the wild, the young beluga was recently deemed as non-releasable to his natural waters in Cook Inlet. There are reportedly only 328 beluga whales native to the area remaining, a NOAA release said.

A date for Tyonek’s transfer to SeaWorld San Antonio has not been announced.

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