About
PascualaOn
April 10th, 2007, a very young orca calf was found standed in the Bay
of
Matanchén. The female orca was covered with wounds
and
scratches which were probably caused by fishing nets. A stranding
response exercise was conducted not to far away and biologists quickly
helped the calf. Because neither the mother nor other orcas were seen
the day she was found, it was decided to take
her in for rehabilitaion.
At first, she was sent to a restaurant at Borrego Beach and spent one day there where her health was assessed. On April 12, a dolphinarium in Vallarta offered to take her in and care for her. She was kept in a small swimming pool because she was too weak to swim on her own and 24 hours a day, volunteers were holding her, and feeding her.
On April 14th, plans were made to fly her to SeaWorld San Diego, where a team of vets and animal keeper waited for her but Proefa and Greenpeace prevented her transfer. The Mexican laws prohibit the exporting of captured marine mammals. Regarding the experience SW trainers have, her move to the U.S. would have been a great chance for Pascuala to win the fight for life.
But despite these troubles, Pascuala made improvements almost every day, so she was moved to a bigger pool on April 17. She still enjoyed being around humans and always asked for attention. Her wounds were healing and she became more active.
On April 28, 18 days after her rescue, she was introduced to the dolphins of the park. Although she formed a strong bond to her "surrogate mothers", she also showed interest in the dolphins, which were scared of her. Pascuala became even more agile and followed them around, doing some speed swims. She was fed about 12 litres a day, so she gained almost 20 kg after her rescue.
By the end of April, her daily interactions with humans decreased. From one day to another she was by herself; the dolphins still had access to her pool, but kept ignoring her. The contact to humans was reduced to a couple of hours in the water, in contrast of 24 hours a day just weeks ago. Volunteers described her being less active and suffering from depression, she even lost weight and her ribs were visible.
The following weeks she was eating a lot but she didn't gain weight. The water temperature was too high and her eyes probably hurt because of the sunshine. Caretakers and vets did their best to keep her alive but on June 10th, Pascuala lost the fight when she died, probably of an infection.
Pascuala was a special case as she was found with many wounds and it was just a matter of time when she died. The love of many volunteers kept her alive, all of them have been her mother. No one knew what would have been her destiny but her improvements in health and her attachment to humans lets everyone hope she would survive.
At first, she was sent to a restaurant at Borrego Beach and spent one day there where her health was assessed. On April 12, a dolphinarium in Vallarta offered to take her in and care for her. She was kept in a small swimming pool because she was too weak to swim on her own and 24 hours a day, volunteers were holding her, and feeding her.
On April 14th, plans were made to fly her to SeaWorld San Diego, where a team of vets and animal keeper waited for her but Proefa and Greenpeace prevented her transfer. The Mexican laws prohibit the exporting of captured marine mammals. Regarding the experience SW trainers have, her move to the U.S. would have been a great chance for Pascuala to win the fight for life.
But despite these troubles, Pascuala made improvements almost every day, so she was moved to a bigger pool on April 17. She still enjoyed being around humans and always asked for attention. Her wounds were healing and she became more active.
On April 28, 18 days after her rescue, she was introduced to the dolphins of the park. Although she formed a strong bond to her "surrogate mothers", she also showed interest in the dolphins, which were scared of her. Pascuala became even more agile and followed them around, doing some speed swims. She was fed about 12 litres a day, so she gained almost 20 kg after her rescue.
By the end of April, her daily interactions with humans decreased. From one day to another she was by herself; the dolphins still had access to her pool, but kept ignoring her. The contact to humans was reduced to a couple of hours in the water, in contrast of 24 hours a day just weeks ago. Volunteers described her being less active and suffering from depression, she even lost weight and her ribs were visible.
The following weeks she was eating a lot but she didn't gain weight. The water temperature was too high and her eyes probably hurt because of the sunshine. Caretakers and vets did their best to keep her alive but on June 10th, Pascuala lost the fight when she died, probably of an infection.
Pascuala was a special case as she was found with many wounds and it was just a matter of time when she died. The love of many volunteers kept her alive, all of them have been her mother. No one knew what would have been her destiny but her improvements in health and her attachment to humans lets everyone hope she would survive.
Name Meaning & Blood
Type:- Pascuala means "Child of
Easter" in Spanish
- Pronouciation of Pascuala: pahs-KWALL-lah
- Blood Type: Unknown
- Pronouciation of Pascuala: pahs-KWALL-lah
- Blood Type: Unknown
Family:Pascuala's
family is unknown as her origins are unknown however it is thought she
is either from the East Tropical Pacific OR Californian
Transient communities
Transfers:
| Bay of Mantanchén | April 10, 2007 - April 10, 2007 |
| Restaurant, Borrego Beach | April 11, 2007 - April 12, 2007 |
| Vallatra Dolphin Adventures | April 12, 1007 - June 10, 2007 |
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