Alaska aquarium cares for abandoned beluga calf
SEWARD, Alaska (AP) -- Marine mammal specialists from across the country are at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward to help care for a baby beluga whale that became separated from its mother shortly after its birth.
The male calf is under 24-hour care, being fed by a stomach tube while learning how to suckle from a bottle.
Staff members say the calf is currently doing well, but the big worry is its under-developed immune system since it never had any of its mother's milk.
Personnel from aquariums in Atlanta, Chicago and San Diego are helping care for the whale.
The whale was estimated to be 2 days old when it was found in Alaska's Bristol Bay on June 18.
Federal officials will eventually decide where the animal is placed.
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