Second bottlenose dolphin dies at National Aquarium this year

An Atlantic bottlenose dolphin has died at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the second dolphin death there this year.

Raven, a 4-year-old dolphin born at the aquarium, became ill June 4 and died within hours of showing symptoms, spokeswoman Jennifer Fiegl said yesterday.

Fiegl said news of his death was not released because the aquarium was awaiting more results of a necropsy, the animal equivalent of an autopsy.

"The early results show that he succumbed to a bacterial infection," Fiegl said.

Raven's death follows the euthanization of Bob, a bottlenose dolphin, in March. Bob, believed to be in his mid-20s, had been suffering from a lung infection for about six months.

The aquarium now has seven dolphins, including Raven's mother, Chesapeake. Fiegl said the remaining dolphins are in good health.