2nd Vancouver Aquarium beluga whale in distress

A dayafter a beluga whale died suddenly at the Vancouver Aquarium, a second beluga has fallen ill.

The Vancouver Aquarium said Thursday Qila's mother Aurora is experiencing the same symptoms as Qila did before she died Wednesday morning.

Aquariumpresident John Nightingale told a news conference Thursdaythe 29-year-old belugais showing signs of abdominal discomfortand hasn't eaten in two days.

Nightingale says Aurora is isolated in a medical tank and under 24-hour watch.

"Aurora is our priority right now. We are incredibly concerned," he said.

Cause of death inconclusive

The death of 21-year-oldQilawas sudden and unexpected, said aquarium veterinarian MartinHaulena.

Haulena said the necropsy performedWednesday was inconclusive as to cause of death but samples have been sent to specialists "around the world" and more tests are being completed.

Test results found a large but "walled off" abscess on Qila's lung but it's not clear if that contributed to herdeath. Blood tests conducted prior to the whale's death came back normal.\

Haulena said staff first noticed Qila had been "off" last week.

Theybecame concerned when they noticed shehad decreased her food intake and began monitoring her.

Haulena said Qila's conditionappeared to be improvingTuesday eveningas she interactedwith trainers.

But then she stopped eating completely in the 24 hours prior to her death.

Aquarium staff 'shell shocked'

Nightingaletearedup briefly at the news conference, saying Vancouver Aquarium staff are "shell-shocked" by the developments.

"In 30 years of working in aquariums, never have I been so affected by the death of an animal," he said.

He said that while Aurora is aware that Qila has died, they do not knowhow beluga whales feel or process grief.

Family history

Qila, the first beluga whale conceived and born in a Canadian aquarium, was Aurora's first offspring.

Aurora's second calf Tuvaq, a male, was born in 2002 and died in 2005. Her third calf, a female named Nala, was born in 2009 but died a year later from an apparent infection.

Qila became a mother in June 2008when she gave birth to a female calf named Tiqa, who died three years later of pneumonia.

With files from the Canadian Press