step-by-step plan to introduce Kayavak slowly to the adults, one at a time, over a period of months. Each time we opened the gate that connected her pool to the adult pool and began an introduction to a new whale, we felt considerable trepidation.
Immi had been the dominant animal in the pod before the birth of this calf. Whale social behavior depends largely on hierarchy; we wondered if Kayavak would benefit from her mother's prior status. Such social dynamics are complicated, however, and what we understood about the rankings of our beluga community was likely just the tip of the iceberg. With Immi gone, things could have shifted in ways that would be hard to predict.
Sure enough, despite the role her mother once played, Kayavak wasn't accorded any special status. On the contrary, she entered the pod at the bottom of the pecking order, and there were times when the older whales showed aggression toward her. But, ultimately, she held her own. Gradually she learned to navigate the society of her new pod and became a solid part of the community.
Even so, Kayavak maintained a bond with all of us. She would throw a glance toward her human companions now and then, as if to let us know she'd made it. We felt as though she were looking back at us with a wink and a nod. Our relationship with her continues to be a special one. Now a young adult, Kayavak is an integral part of the beluga group at the aquarium. A guest wouldn't be able to pick her out from among the other animals, but every member of the aquarium staff can identify her at a glance.
Kayavak's case, with its sad and startling beginning but successful resolution, made a lasting impression on me. Of all the lessons we learned that winterâabout nutrition and infectious disease, behavior and environmental enrichment, tough decision making, and acceptance of riskâperhaps the most powerful were the ones we learned from Kayavak. She taught us about adaptability and survival. This endearing whale sought the care and companionship she needed to survive, and we happily provided it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Boehm is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego, where he received his bachelor's degree, and the University of California, Davis, where he received his degree in veterinary medicine. He completed an internship in small animal medicine in Southern California and then worked as a veterinary clinician at the Los Angeles Zoo. Since 1992, Dr. Boehm has worked at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where he is currently the senior vice president for animal health and conservation science and the Louis Family Conservation chair. In this position, he oversees the aquarium's veterinary division, a variety of conservation science initiatives, and a Great Lakes conservation program. Dr. Boehm has a keen interest in aquatic conservation, specifically the role that zoos and aquariums play in fieldwork and research, and ultimately in public awareness.
II
T ECHNOLOGY H ELPS
MRI scans produce excellent images in turtles, lasers limit blood loss during surgery in fish, ultrasound studies can detect heart disease in gorillas, orthopedic surgery works well in birds, and root canals are readily performed on lions, tigers, and bears. All of these animals are monitored during anesthesia with pulse oximetry, a measure of heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. With the help of medical technology, zoo vets arrive at diagnoses earlier, predict outcomes more accurately, and treat symptoms more successfully.
Given the range of species and potential problems in zoological medicine, there's sometimes a first-time technological solution. It might be the application of familiar technology to an unfamiliar species, or the replacement of a traditional medical tool with a newer one.
The process of applying such techniques in wild animals, however, is anything but routine. Even the simplest technique may require a degree of modification, depending on the species. In order to
Immi had been the dominant animal in the pod before the birth of this calf. Whale social behavior depends largely on hierarchy; we wondered if Kayavak would benefit from her mother's prior status. Such social dynamics are complicated, however, and what we understood about the rankings of our beluga community was likely just the tip of the iceberg. With Immi gone, things could have shifted in ways that would be hard to predict.
Sure enough, despite the role her mother once played, Kayavak wasn't accorded any special status. On the contrary, she entered the pod at the bottom of the pecking order, and there were times when the older whales showed aggression toward her. But, ultimately, she held her own. Gradually she learned to navigate the society of her new pod and became a solid part of the community.
Even so, Kayavak maintained a bond with all of us. She would throw a glance toward her human companions now and then, as if to let us know she'd made it. We felt as though she were looking back at us with a wink and a nod. Our relationship with her continues to be a special one. Now a young adult, Kayavak is an integral part of the beluga group at the aquarium. A guest wouldn't be able to pick her out from among the other animals, but every member of the aquarium staff can identify her at a glance.
Kayavak's case, with its sad and startling beginning but successful resolution, made a lasting impression on me. Of all the lessons we learned that winterâabout nutrition and infectious disease, behavior and environmental enrichment, tough decision making, and acceptance of riskâperhaps the most powerful were the ones we learned from Kayavak. She taught us about adaptability and survival. This endearing whale sought the care and companionship she needed to survive, and we happily provided it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Boehm is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego, where he received his bachelor's degree, and the University of California, Davis, where he received his degree in veterinary medicine. He completed an internship in small animal medicine in Southern California and then worked as a veterinary clinician at the Los Angeles Zoo. Since 1992, Dr. Boehm has worked at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where he is currently the senior vice president for animal health and conservation science and the Louis Family Conservation chair. In this position, he oversees the aquarium's veterinary division, a variety of conservation science initiatives, and a Great Lakes conservation program. Dr. Boehm has a keen interest in aquatic conservation, specifically the role that zoos and aquariums play in fieldwork and research, and ultimately in public awareness.
II
T ECHNOLOGY H ELPS
MRI scans produce excellent images in turtles, lasers limit blood loss during surgery in fish, ultrasound studies can detect heart disease in gorillas, orthopedic surgery works well in birds, and root canals are readily performed on lions, tigers, and bears. All of these animals are monitored during anesthesia with pulse oximetry, a measure of heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. With the help of medical technology, zoo vets arrive at diagnoses earlier, predict outcomes more accurately, and treat symptoms more successfully.
Given the range of species and potential problems in zoological medicine, there's sometimes a first-time technological solution. It might be the application of familiar technology to an unfamiliar species, or the replacement of a traditional medical tool with a newer one.
The process of applying such techniques in wild animals, however, is anything but routine. Even the simplest technique may require a degree of modification, depending on the species. In order to
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