Peekachu, a beluga whale that recently relocated from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, passed away at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on Wednesday. This sad event coincided with the transfer of two other belugas and four dolphins to Spain.
The 23-year-old female beluga was among a group of eight belugas that were flown to Shedd two weeks ago as part of an ongoing international rescue mission. Described as “unique” by the aquarium, Peekachu, who was blind in one eye and smaller than the others, adapted well to her new environment and socialized with ease.
Initially showing signs of progress by consuming squid, herring, and capelin, Peekachu’s health deteriorated as she began refusing food, leading to a diagnosis of dehydration. Despite efforts to provide medical care and fluids, Peekachu passed away suddenly on Tuesday evening, prompting the aquarium to conduct a necropsy.
While expressing sadness over Peekachu’s death, Marineland stated that its other whales are receiving excellent care at Shedd. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson also conveyed her condolences, acknowledging the challenging circumstances faced by those caring for the animals.
In a separate development, four dolphins—Echo, Lida, Marina, and Tsunami—departed Marineland for their new home in Spain, marking the end of captive dolphin facilities in Canada. Animal advocacy groups, such as Animal Justice, have long campaigned for the relocation of these marine mammals to sanctuaries due to concerns about their health and well-being.
Kaitlyn Mitchell, the legal advocacy director for Animal Justice, expressed both devastation and concern over the fate of the belugas, citing past instances of mortality among transferred animals from Marineland. Mitchell criticized the rushed nature of the relocation process and emphasized the importance of ensuring the animals’ health before moving them.
The remaining six belugas at Marineland, the last captive whales in Canada, are scheduled to be transferred to a U.S. aquarium, as part of the park’s decision to relocate all its animals due to financial constraints. Initially, Marineland had planned to sell the belugas and dolphins to a Chinese aquarium, but the move was blocked by Ottawa for violating animal welfare laws.
Following the intervention of American and Spanish aquariums, the belugas have been redirected to various facilities, including SeaWorld locations and the Georgia Aquarium. This shift in relocation destinations reflects ongoing efforts to safeguard the well-being of the marine mammals previously housed at Marineland.