citation_inspection: 66

The new whales were first given access to the older resident whales and the main pool in the habitat on 6/18/21. Facility records indicated that the five-year-old whale named Havok had been receiving treatment for over two weeks for an ocular condition that resulted in compromised vision. On 6/20/21, the gates between the three interconnecting pools were open allowing the eight whales access to all pools. A visitor dropped a foreign object in the main pool, which according to facility employees, is not unexpected when there are a lot of visitors present at the exhibits. According to facility employees, in response to the foreign object, they closed the gate to the holding pool. The facility stationed other whales, but not Havok. A facility employee attempted to retrieve the object with a net. Per the facility, Havok was startled by the net in the main pool and then swam towards the holding pool after the gate was shut. Although the facility has applied dark hatch markings on the clear acrylic gate, Havok swam straight into the gate. According to facility records, Havok was “shut on main (pool), rammed gate to holding pool, re-opened rostrum wounds and new wound on upper left mandible.” Results of the veterinarians' examination noted trauma sustained when he hit the gate included the presence of lacerations on the maxillary palate and the pre-existing wound on his rostrum re-opened and expanded. Handling of all animals shall be done in a manner that does not cause physical harm. Foreign objects falling into exhibits from members of the public is an anticipated occurrence. The handling of the whales during the response to the foreign object falling into the pool was not done as carefully as possible to ensure the safety of all the animals, including Havok who had known vision impairment, a history of swimming into habitat walls, and a disposition for being “spooked,” per his behavioral records and previous facility’s medical records. Correct from this date 10/15/21 forward.