Four out of the six beluga whales that were moved from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Wednesday have safely reached the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on Thursday morning. The four female whales will soon be joining four other belugas that were transferred to the aquarium from Marineland in July during the initial phase of the whale relocation process.
At Marineland, a specialized team guided the six belugas into a custom sling one by one before lifting them into tanks on Wednesday. Subsequently, the whales were transported by police to Toronto’s Pearson airport, where the two male belugas were flown to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and the female belugas were flown to Chicago.
The female belugas are currently housed in Shedd’s 11.3-million litre Abbott Oceanarium, where they are being acclimated to their new environment away from public view. According to the aquarium, the process of transitioning the whales is being closely monitored and tailored to each whale’s individual pace.
The new arrivals at Shedd include Caspian, a 27-year-old beluga known for his “big personality”; Peekachu, a 23-year-old energetic and confident beluga with a non-functioning right eye; Rain, a 20-year-old beluga with a unique forehead structure; and Secord, a 22-year-old beluga recognized for her long upper jaw and fondness for pushing enrichment items around. These belugas will soon reunite with the other four belugas from Marineland with whom they share important social bonds.
The Shedd Aquarium’s animal care team is providing 24/7 monitoring of the eight belugas, tracking their food intake and breathing patterns. Early reports indicate that the transition process is progressing well for the rescued whales. Shedd has expressed its commitment to rescuing up to two more belugas from Marineland.
Marineland, which closed to the public in 2024 and is currently for sale, cited financial constraints as the reason for transferring the whales. Before the recent transfers, Marineland housed the last remaining captive whales and dolphins in Canada. The ongoing relocation operation, described as “unprecedented” by Marineland, is crucial for the survival of these belugas.
In response to earlier plans to sell the belugas to a Chinese aquarium being blocked, Marineland had threatened to euthanize all the whales without emergency funding from the government. Subsequently, a new deal involving American and Spanish aquariums was approved, facilitating the current series of whale relocations. Additionally, SeaWorld in San Diego and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain are expected to receive some of Marineland’s whales or dolphins.
If the belugas are not successfully relocated, Marineland has indicated that euthanasia may be considered. Following the recent move, Marineland will retain 11 belugas and four dolphins, aiming to complete the relocation of all whales by the end of the month.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson acknowledged the successful transfer of the belugas to the Shedd Aquarium and Georgia Aquarium, thanking various organizations and individuals for their dedicated efforts in facilitating the rescue operation.
