Necropsy Report

Killer Whale (Orcinus-orca) Ramu

Age 18 yrs SeaWorld of Florida
Name: Ramu (male) Species: Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Source: wild capture, 02-15-1967, Yukon Harbor, WA, USA, age: est. 3 yrs Deceased: 01-12-1982, SeaWorld of Florida, age: est. 18 yrs Reported cause of death (per NMFS MMIR data): Old Age Necropsy info: Diagnosis- Lanny H. Cornell, DVM (1982): 1) cardiopulmonary decomposition; 2) infectious pleuritis; 3) numerous senile changes.

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, Orlando, Florida, Ramu The Orca Project Corp 3/11/2012 www.theorcaproject.com

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ANIMAL, NAbE : ~ S / S P E C ~ SO r c i n u s o r c a :

PATII. NO. SW 82105 I . D . NO. SW-00-003

SEX:

M.

F.

D A T E / T ~O DEATH: F

1/12/82

The a n i m a l was t r e a t e d f o r t h e p a s t 1 8 m o n t h s f o r c h r o n i c , p a r t i a l l y u n r e s p o n s i v e , hypochromic m i c r o c y t i c anemia, n e p h r i t i s and c o n g e s t i v e heart failure. The a n i m a l ' s f o o d c o n s u m p t i o n was 300-500 l b s . p e r day.

. GROSS

PJECROPSY FI?JDINGS: 5900 l b s , PJEIrn:

m m: 1

24 f t .

G I r n:

Integument: The i n t e g u m e n t a p p e a r s n o r m a l . The a n i m a l i s s l i g h t l y o v e r 24 f t . i n l e n g t h , a n d h i s g i r t h i s 23 f t . a t t h e c h e s t . R e s p i r a t o r y System: The l u n g s a r e c o n g e s t e d , a n d t h e r e i s s e v e r e fibrinous pleuritis. Both t h e l e f t and r i g h t p l e u r a l c a v i t i e s c o n t a i n 24-30 g a l l o n s o f s e r o u s f l u i d . -The p a r i e t a l s u r f a c e o f t h e l u n g s i s 1/2"-3/4" t h i c k . D i g e s t i v e System: The stomach i s normal; t h e g l a n d u l a r stomach cont a i n s two o u t p o c k e t s i n s t e a d o f t h e n o r m a l o n e . T h e r e a r e a few nematode p a r a s i t e s i n t h e g l a n d u l a r stomach. The l i v e r i s h e a v i l y congested,and t h e blood v e s s e l s throughout a r e d i s t e n d e d with f l u i d and b l o o d . T h e e d g e s o f t h e l i v e r a r e r o u n d e d s e v e r e l y , and t h e s e r o s a l s u r f a c e o f t h e l i v e r i s t h i c k e n e d and e d e m a t o u s . There appears t o be centrilobular necrosis. The i n t e s t i n e s a p p e a r n o r m a l .
-

Lymphatic System: T h e m e d i a s t i n a l lymph n o d e s a r e g r e a t l y e n l a r g e d and c o n g e s t e d . The s p l e e n i s c o n g e s t e d .

, '

C a r d i o v a s c u l a r System:

The r i g h t v e n t - z i c l e o f t h e h e a r t i s d i s t e n d e d .

Arr,+i\r-c P: he

3roi-r~:

Endocrine & Exocrine System: The p a n c r e a s i s normal e x c e p t f o r one s m a l l a r e a 5-10cm i n d i a m e t e r w h i c h i s c o n s o l i d a t e d a n d s c a r r e d a n d does not.appear a c t i v e . The a d r e n a l g l a n d s a r e s l i g h t l y e n l a r g e d b u t a p p e a r t o be normal o n g r o s s examination. U r i n a r y System: Both k i d n e y s a r e c o n g e s t e d , w i t h c o r t i c a l d e t e r i o r a t i o n i n both lobules. There i s a t h i c k urine-like material i n t h e p e l v e s and i n t h e k i d n e y s and b l a d d e r . Nervous System: The b r a i n i s normal on g r o s s .examination.
/

--

stomach

adult

nematode

lung kidney urinary tract liver kidney *adrefial gland

--

spleen

T 7 .-.-,-.-TC I. ...-

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I) c a r d i o p u l m o n a r y d e c o m p e n s a t i o n ;
i n f e c t i o u s p1eur.iti.s; 3 ) numerous senile c h a n g e s .
2)