Overview

• Kimalu is resting in a specialized medical habitat under 24-hour care with antibiotics, pain management, incision monitoring and tailored nutrition.
• Pathologists have begun analyzing the network of cysts removed during the July 1 surgery to determine their origin and inform future treatment strategies.
• Kimalu’s emergence from general anesthesia marks the first successful reversal in a beluga and highlights advances in marine mammal anesthesia.
• The surgery enlisted nearly 30 experts from Shedd Aquarium and partner institutions nationwide across fields of zoological medicine, surgery and anesthesia.
• Findings from Kimalu’s case are expected to shape updated global protocols for beluga care and pave the way for safer surgical interventions.