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Necropsy Report

Killer Whale (Orcinus-orca) Winston


Age 23 yrs SeaWorld of California
Name: Winston (male) (aka- Ramu) Species: Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Source: wild capture, 08-08-1970, Penn Cove, WA, USA, age: est. 7 yrs Deceased: 11:30 pm, 04-28-1986, SeaWorld of California, age: est. 23 yrs Reported cause of death (per NMFS MMIR data): Chronic Cardiovascular Failure Necropsy info: Diagnosis- Lanny H. Cornell, DVM (1986): 1) chronic cardiovascular failure (cardiac infarcts) 2) nephrosis; chronic interstitial nephritis 3) systemic failure and resultant septicemia

Notes: Prior to reforms of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in 1994, holders of marine mammals for public display were required to submit necropsy reports (animal autopsy reports) for deceased animals, making the documents available to the public and scientific community. Presently, marine mammal parks in the U.S. are only required to provide a cause of death to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which maintains Marine Mammal Inventory Reports (MMIR). Details of marine mammal deaths are now a closely guarded secret at U.S. entertainment facilities. The Orca Project acquired the following documents from the National Marine Fisheries Service (U.S.A) via the Freedom of Information Act for deaths that occurred prior to implementation of the 1994 MMPA changes. For more information visit www.theorcaproject.com

Necropsy, Autopsy, Veterinarian, NOAA, NMFS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, MMIR, Marine Mammal Inventory Report, MMPA, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Killer Whale, Orca, Shamu, Death, Die, SeaWorld, San Diego, California, Winston The Orca Project Corp 3/11/2012 www.theorcaproject.com

SEA WORLD, SAN DIEGO

G E N U S / S P E C I E S : Q ~ ~ ~ a r cS ~U a DATE/TIME OF DEATH: 4/28/86: 2330 4/29/86

I. D. NO. PATH. N3.

1
SW 86072

DATE/TIME OF NECROPSY :

SEX : m a l e

CLIKICAL HISTORY PRIOR TO DEATH: The animal exhibited a gradual decline in appetite and general health over a six month perrod. Decrease in kidney function became an acute kidney failure about two weeks previous tc death. Fluid therapy was given by intravenous and subcutaneous fluids ano support therapy for two weeks prior to death. The animal appeared to rally about 48 hours prior to death, becoming generally more alert, etc. Suaaen death occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. on April 28, 1986.

APPEARANCE: Appearance was good, except for skin lesions on the chip (keratosis) and at the base of the dorsal fin. Animal was.very old in appearance generally. WEIGHT:
a ~ p r o x . 12,000 lbs.

LENGTH :

GIRTH :

SS W P S Y W I N G S :

m U M U : Keratosis is evident on the mandible at the chin. The base of the Gorsal fin (left side, inner curvature) was extremely keratotic looki n s with hyperepithelial response.
T,ET& : Normal except for the dorsal lumbar and coccygeal muscles behind the dorsal fin, which are ischemic and pale.

RESPIRATORY:

There is acute pulmonary congestion with frothy tracheal fluid. Both the right and left lungs contain numerous marble-size (1-2 cm) abscess lesions with greenish tinged exudate.

Arcc7liv-6 P T+a O r m Proi-P;: : w\hl\h~.*'3-o'c20'oi-c:. c o n

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I .D. NO.

SWC -Oo - 7 6 0 1
SH 8 6 0 7 2

PATH. NO. :

S F

m (continued):

WIOV-:

The right epicardium and the left baseball size cirrhotic lesions on the ventral side. 0.5-1.5 cm cirrhotic lesions throughout the ventricle. r L L U I L I v e r y old cardiovascular infarcts.

ventricle exhibit There are numerous which a ? p e z r t c 8:

LIVER: STOMACH:

The liver is swollen and pale yellow with rounded edges. Normal, no visib1.e lesions. The pancreas is cirrhotic and hemorrhagic throughout. There is a keratotic lesion at the anus. ,Intestine is otherwise normal.

PANCREAS: INTESTINE:

The kidneys are very pale with a few granular casts in the IIROC;ENITAL: calayces. The kidneys are as would appear in chornic interstitial neph.ritis in old animals.

ENDOCRINE:
ADRENAL: The adrenal glands are hemorrhagic throughout.

THYRO.ID: No visible lesions.

REPRODUCTIVE:

The testes are large (12 kg +) and sperm is present throughout both testicles. Testicles exhibited no visible lesions. The lymph nodes in the cervical and thoracic areas are len, congested and somewhat hemorrhagic with some purulent exudate. SPLEEK: The spleen is e n l a r g e d and hemorrhagic. No visible lesions. swol-

-TICS:

NERVI>USN:

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I.D.

NO:

1
86072

PATH. NO.:

HISI"IQATHOLOGY: lung, h e a r t , l i v e r , kidney, pancreas, adrenal gland, spleen, l _ * n d e , testes, s k e l e t a l muscle PARASITES : CULTURES: DIAGNOSIS:

1)
2) 3)

chronic cardiovascular f a i l u r e (cardiac i n f a r c t s ) nephrosis; chronic i n t e r s t i t i a l nepliritis systemic f a i l u r e and r e s u l t a n t septicemia

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CURATOR : VETERINARIAN: TECHKICIAN:
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