Four beluga whales from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, were safely transported to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago after a specialized team guided them into tanks using a custom sling. The females will be joining four other belugas transferred in July. The whales were escorted to Toronto’s Pearson airport, where the males flew to Georgia Aquarium and the females to Shedd Aquarium. The new arrivals are acclimating to their surroundings in Shedd’s Abbott Oceanarium under constant observation.
The belugas, including Caspian, Peekachu, Rain, and Secord, are known for their unique traits and personalities. They will soon reunite with the other belugas at Shedd, fostering important social bonds. The animal care team is closely monitoring the whales’ well-being, noting positive signs of their adjustment.
Shedd Aquarium plans to rescue up to two more belugas from Marineland, which faced financial challenges and decided to transfer its remaining whales and dolphins to the United States. The complex relocation operation aims to ensure the animals’ survival. Marineland’s deal to sell the belugas to a Chinese aquarium was blocked, leading to emergency funding requests and subsequent agreements with American and Spanish aquariums for the whales’ transfer.
If the remaining belugas and dolphins are not relocated, Marineland has indicated that they may be euthanized. The park aims to complete the whale transfers by the end of the month. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson commended the collaborative efforts that facilitated the recent beluga rescues.
