A Chicago aquarium has reported that several belugas brought from Ontario’s Marineland are experiencing health issues. The Shedd Aquarium stated that they are closely monitoring the belugas around the clock, observing their hydration levels, breathing rates, swim behaviors, social interactions, and other activities.
This update follows the recent deaths of two belugas from Marineland at the Shedd Aquarium. Peekachu, a beluga from Marineland, passed away on August 25, two weeks after being moved to the Chicago aquarium. Another beluga named Rain, aged 20, and a 34-year-old beluga that had resided in Chicago for decades also died.
The Shedd Aquarium expressed concern about the remaining belugas’ health status, emphasizing that some whales show more positive signs than others, but several are facing clinical issues. The aquarium mentioned that the belugas’ conditions are subject to rapid changes, sometimes within hours.
Belugas primarily receive hydration through the fish they consume, and while some rescued whales are eating regularly, others are not. Overall, the Shedd Aquarium stated that none of the belugas have reached the desired health status.
Before their relocation, the belugas from Marineland were deemed healthy, with Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson granting final approval for the move. Marineland recently conducted the largest collective transfer of captive whales globally, relocating 30 belugas and four dolphins to five aquariums in the United States and Spain.
The final transfer marked the end of whale captivity in Canada, as Marineland had threatened to euthanize the belugas if they were not moved to new facilities due to financial constraints. The park’s advisor, Andrew Burns, mentioned that the complex relocation was essential as Marineland was facing financial difficulties.
Unfortunately, multiple whales have died after being relocated from Marineland in the past. Notably, in 2021, five whales moved to Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, with two dying within a year and a third two years after the transfer. Mystic Aquarium cited pre-existing conditions, while Marineland insisted the whales were healthy upon departure.
Between 2019 and 2025, Marineland reported the deaths of nineteen belugas, one killer whale, and one dolphin on its premises.