Atlanta – Another whale shark died Wednesday at the Georgia Aquarium, the second this year at the only facility outside Asia to display the huge, rare fish.
Aquarium officials said identifying the cause of Norton’s death could take months. A necropsy was planned.
Just two weeks ago, two young male sharks arrived from Taiwan, and fishery officials there said at that time they were satisfied the Georgia Aquarium provided quality care.
In January, Ralph died from peritonitis, an infection in his abdomen.
Aquarium officials said Wednesday that Norton had stopped eating in recent months and swam erratically. Early Wednesday, he settled to the bottom of the tank.
He was euthanized after his health didn’t improve.
Ralph had stomach problems, but the aquarium has also said a chemical used in cleaning the sharks’ tank may have contributed to Ralph’s loss of appetite.
The tank-cleaning routine since has been changed.
Aquarium official Ray Davis said the remaining four whale sharks were doing fine.
