SeaWorld: Rescued Cook Inlet beluga thrives at theme park

ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld officials say an endangered beluga whale rescued off Alaska's coast is thriving in his new theme park home.

The whale Tyonek was flown from the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward to SeaWorld San Antonio in March.

SeaWorld officials say Tyonek has grown to nearly 400 pounds and measures nearly 7 feet long. When Tyonek arrived at the Alaska SeaLife Center in late September 2017, shortly after being rescued, the beluga weighed 142 pounds and measured just over 5 feet long.

In a statement Friday, SeaWorld San Antonio senior veterinarian Steve Osborn said Tyonek is eating fish and interacting normally with the other nine beluga whales at the Texas park.

A year ago, Tyonek was stranded as a month-old calf after his mother abandoned him or died. According to Orlando, Florida-based SeaWorld, Tyonek is the first beluga calf from Alaska's Cook Inlet to be successfully rescued and rehabilitated.

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