Minnesota State Zoological Board

In August, 1977, the zoo captured two beluga whales in the Churchill River near Hudson's Bay, Canada. The two whales, a male named Big Mouth and a female named Little Girl, were the major attractions when the zoo opened in 1978. In 1984, Big Mouth injured his jaw while chewing on a feeding platform or water pipe; x-rays in May, 1986, showed the infection had moved into the bone. On July 10, 1986, surgery was performed to shorten and reconstruct his jaw. The zoo announced on April 15, 1987 that Big Mouth had developed osteomyelitis, an inoperable acute bone infection, in his left flipper, and would be moved to Sea World in San Diego on April 26, in hopes the natural sea water would aid his recovery. Little Girl, who reacted poorly to being separated from Big Mouth, was also moved. Little Girl died unexpectedly on June 12, 1989 of cardiopulmonary collapse, and Big Mouth was euthanized in June, 1990, due to the spread of his disease. In 1988, the zoo board decided against mounting another whale exhibit.

From the description of Whale files, 1977-1990. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122357921

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