Weakened orca was sick and had severe gum disease

Photo: Bas Niemans - The orca that stranded and eventually died near Cadzand last Saturday had severe gum inflammation. The female also had inflammation in several internal organs and had not eaten for some time. This is according to initial investigations by Utrecht University and Wageningen Marine Research. According to biologist Lonneke IJsseldijk of Utrecht University, the orca was emaciated: 'all the orca's teeth were loose and rotting. The animal must certainly have been in real pain when eating food.' In addition to the gum inflammation, inflammation was found in several internal organs, including on a heart valve, in the meninges and in the sexual organ. So it can be said with certainty that this was a seriously ill and debilitated animal. To find out whether all the inflammations had the same or different causes, additional research is needed.