For the second time in less than six months, a whale shark at the Georgia Aquarium, the only facility outside Asia to display the rare fish, has died.The whale shark, known as Norton, had stopped eating in recent months and was swimming erratically, according to a statement from the aquarium. Veterinary and husbandry staff members conducted tests that confirmed Norton's declining health.
On Tuesday, he was placed on 24-hour watch. Early Wednesday, Norton stopped swimming and settled to the bottom of his 6 million-gallon tank. Divers brought him up on a stretcher for additional tests and treatment, and "after every option had been exhausted to improve Norton's health, the team made the decision to humanely euthanize him," aquarium officials said in the statement.
In January, the aquarium lost another whale shark, the world's largest fish and one of the facility's most popular attractions. Ralph, which arrived with Norton in June 2005 from Taiwan, died of an inflammation to a membrane in his abdomen. Two female whale sharks, Alice and Trixie, came to the facility in June 2006.
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