Four out of the six beluga whales that were moved from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Wednesday have safely arrived at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago by Thursday morning. The quartet of female belugas will soon be integrated with four other belugas from Marineland, who were transferred to the aquarium in July during the initial phase of the whale relocation process.
A team of specialized workers at the closed tourist attraction in Niagara carefully guided the six belugas into a custom sling one by one before lifting them into tanks on Wednesday. Subsequently, the whales were accompanied by police to Toronto’s Pearson airport. The two male belugas were then transported to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, while the female belugas were taken 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. The aquarium emphasized that the transition process is being managed meticulously, respecting the whales’ pace, as mentioned by Charlie Jacobsma, the director of animal behavior and training in a recent news release.
The recent arrivals include Caspian, a 27-year-old beluga with a vibrant personality, Peekachu, a 23-year-old energetic and confident beluga with a non-functioning right eye, Rain, a 20-year-old beluga with a distinctive forehead, and Secord, a 22-year-old beluga known for her elongated upper jaw and enjoyment of moving enrichment items around.
The new belugas will soon be reunited with the four other belugas from Marineland at Shedd, namely Acadia, Osiris, Sierra, and Lillooet, with whom they share crucial social connections, according to Shedd. The aquarium stressed the importance of maintaining familiar companions nearby to boost the confidence of the new arrivals as they navigate their new surroundings, interact with caretakers, and replenish nutrients following the journey.
Shedd’s animal care team is diligently monitoring the eight belugas, observing their food consumption and breathing patterns. Initial reports indicate that the transition is progressing positively. Additionally, Shedd has expressed its commitment to potentially rescuing two more belugas from Marineland in the future.
Marineland, which ceased public operations in 2024 and is currently up for sale, has faced financial challenges leading to the decision to transfer the belugas. Before the recent transfers, Marineland housed 30 belugas and four dolphins, the last captive marine mammals in Canada. The ongoing relocation initiative, described by Marineland as unprecedented, is deemed essential for the survival of the belugas.
In response to the situation, Marineland had initially planned to sell all its belugas to a Chinese aquarium, which was later blocked by the fisheries minister. Subsequently, Marineland threatened to euthanize the whales without emergency funding from the federal government, prompting international attention. A revised agreement with a consortium of American and Spanish aquariums facilitated the current series of transfers.
Other facilities such as SeaWorld in San Diego and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain are also poised to welcome belugas or dolphins from Marineland. The fate of the remaining 11 belugas and four dolphins at Marineland hinges on potential relocations or the grim possibility of euthanasia if transfers do not proceed.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson commended the successful transfer of belugas to Shedd Aquarium and Georgia Aquarium, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of various organizations and facilities involved in the rescue mission.