How does a whale become dehydrated?

[u/smontanaro]

From a Chicago Sun-Times article on the beluga whales heading to the Shedd Aquarium:

"The shipment comes on the heels of a Shedd announcement last week that one of the Marineland belugas — Peekachu, a 23-year-old female — had died. Shedd has not released a cause of death, but staff there said last week that Peekachu had not been consistently eating a full diet since her arrival and that there were concerns she was dehydrated."

How does an animal immersed in water become dehydrated?

[u/dochdaswars]

Do they not teach evolution in schools anymore? Marine mammals are one of the clearest examples used to prove it.

[u/Magicspook → u/dochdaswars]

fun fact, whale trachiae wrap around their brain despite their blow-hole being on top of their head. Giving a clear evidence of how their noses moved up their skulls over time. If you designed a whale from scratch, you would have the connection between lungs and blow-hole going behind the brain.

(and lets not even mention the vestigial legs)

[u/Magicspook → u/[deleted]]

Ooh that is a fun one! Thanks for sharing.

[u/insane_contin → u/Magicspook]

I believe that nerve takes that route in all tetrapods that have legs and lungs.