Four of the six beluga whales that were transported from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Wednesday have safely reached the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on Thursday morning. These four female belugas will soon be joined by four others that were transferred to the aquarium from Marineland in July during the initial phase of whale relocation.
A team of specialized workers at the closed tourist attraction in Niagara facilitated the transfer of the six belugas into a custom sling one by one before moving them into tanks on Wednesday. The whales were then escorted by police to Toronto’s Pearson airport, where the two male belugas were flown to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and the females were sent to Chicago.
The female belugas are now residing in Shedd’s 11.3-million litre Abbott Oceanarium, where they are being kept away from public view as they acclimate to their new environment. Charlie Jacobsma, the director of animal behavior and training, emphasized the importance of a gradual transition for the whales, aiming to understand each individual’s personality and progress during this period.
The recent 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; and Secord, a 22-year-old beluga recognized for her long upper jaw and love for pushing enrichment items around. These new belugas will soon be reunited with the other four belugas from Marineland with whom they share significant social bonds.
Shedd’s animal care team is closely monitoring the eight belugas, observing their food intake and breathing patterns. Early signs indicate that the transition is progressing well, according to Shedd. The aquarium has expressed its commitment to rescuing up to two more belugas from Marineland.
Marineland, which closed its doors to the public in 2024 and is currently up for sale, cited financial constraints as the reason for the whale transfers. Before the recent relocation, the park housed a total of 30 belugas and four dolphins, the last captive whales and dolphins in Canada. The ongoing relocation operation has been described by Marineland as unprecedented and crucial for the survival of the belugas.
Furthermore, Marineland’s plan to sell all 30 belugas to a Chinese aquarium was blocked by the fisheries minister, leading to the current series of transfers orchestrated with the help of American and Spanish aquariums. SeaWorld in San Diego and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain are also expected to receive some of Marineland’s whales or dolphins.
If the belugas are not successfully relocated, Marineland has stated that euthanasia may be considered as an alternative. Following the recent relocation, Marineland will be left with 11 belugas and four dolphins, aiming to have all the whales relocated by the end of the month. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson commended the successful relocation of the belugas to the Shedd and Georgia Aquariums, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of various organizations and facilities involved in the rescue operation.