Four Beluga Whales Die After Rescue from Closed Marineland in Canada
In August and September, four beluga whales that were rescued from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, passed away after being moved to facilities in the U.S. and Spain. These whales were among 30 belugas and four dolphins that were relocated due to Marineland's impending closure in 2024 and its financial troubles. Osiris, Peekachu, and Rain died at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while Jelly Bean succumbed at Oceanogràfic València in Spain. Post-mortem examinations indicated chronic inflammatory disease in Rain and Peekachu, with Peekachu also having swallowed foreign objects. Shedd plans to examine Osiris, considered a 'clinical concern,' while Oceanogràfic València is performing a necropsy on Jelly Bean and a dolphin named Echo. Critics claim more preventive actions were necessary, but Shedd defends the transfers as a better option than euthanasia.
Key facts
- Four beluga whales rescued from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, died in August and September after transfers.
- The whales were part of a group of 30 belugas and four dolphins relocated over the summer from the park, which closed in 2024.
- Three whales—Osiris, Peekachu and Rain—died at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago; Jelly Bean died at Oceanogràfic València in Spain.
- Post-mortem exams found chronic inflammatory disease in Rain and Peekachu, likely pre-existing; Peekachu had ingested foreign objects, Rain had eaten paint flecks.
- Shedd Aquarium will conduct a similar analysis on Osiris, who was a whale of 'clinical concern' throughout her time there.
- Other facilities that received whales include SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.
- Animal rights advocates argue more could have been done to prevent the deaths, while veterinarians had assessed the animals as healthy before transfer.
- Canada prohibits breeding whales for non-research purposes, and advocates criticize the lack of a breeding commitment from participating aquariums.
Entities
Artists
- Camille Labchuk
- Todd Robeck
- Lori Marino
- Karisa Tang
- Remy Tumin
- Carly Thomas
- Finnegan Belleau
- Sara Hashemi
Institutions
- Shedd Aquarium
- Oceanogràfic València
- Marineland
- SeaWorld San Antonio
- SeaWorld San Diego
- Georgia Aquarium
- Animal Justice
- Whale Sanctuary Project
- SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment
- Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News
- New York Times
- Chicago Tribune
Locations
- Niagara Falls
- Ontario
- Canada
- Chicago
- United States
- Spain
- València
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- Atlanta
- New York City