Animal Justice is urging Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to look into the demise of Peekachu, a 23-year-old beluga whale from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., at a Chicago aquarium. The national animal law advocacy group is also urging DFO to pause the ongoing transfer of marine mammals from the closed theme park until an inquiry is concluded.
Peekachu was transported to Shedd Aquarium on Aug. 13 and passed away on Aug. 25. Kaitlyn Mitchell, the legal advocacy director of Animal Justice, wrote to Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, questioning how Peekachu was cleared for relocation despite evident health issues.
A certified Canadian veterinarian was required to conduct health evaluations of the whales before the transfer. Additionally, Marineland was reportedly obliged to confirm these assessments in writing, as per a source disclosed to CBC News in January.
Shedd Aquarium disclosed that Peekachu suffered from dehydration and poor appetite before her sudden demise, while emphasizing that a necropsy is being carried out.
DFO stated that they took “reasonable steps” to ensure the safety of the whales, including issuing necessary permits and authorizations after individual health assessments were conducted. Thompson’s office expressed confidence in the rescue plan and the professionals caring for the animals.
Animal Justice’s letter calls for the suspension of the transportation of the remaining six belugas until Peekachu’s death is investigated and the health of the other whales is confirmed suitable for the journey.
Marineland had initially planned to send its belugas and dolphins to China, but the move was blocked by Ottawa due to legislation prohibiting whale and dolphin captivity. Facing financial difficulties, Marineland sought help from American and Spanish aquariums, leading to the relocation of its belugas to various locations, including SeaWorld facilities.
Concerns about potential additional whale deaths were raised by Naomi Rose, a marine mammal biologist at the Animal Welfare Institute. She echoed Animal Justice’s plea for an investigation and criticized Marineland for neglecting accountability for the animals’ well-being.
Rose highlighted the stress faced by the whales during transportation and expressed worries about their health, mentioning the possibility of storage disease, a genetic ailment worsened by stress.
The relocation of Marineland whales to different facilities and their separation was flagged as a stress factor by Rose, who suggested that Marineland should have waited to send the whales to a sanctuary instead.
Rose described the situation as challenging for the whales and disagreed with the suggestion to keep them at Marineland, emphasizing the risks they face in the current environment.