Peekachu, a beluga whale recently transferred from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, has passed away, the Shedd Aquarium announced on Wednesday. This sad event coincided with the relocation of two other belugas and four dolphins to Spain.
The 23-year-old female beluga was part of a group of eight belugas transported to the Shedd Aquarium two weeks ago as part of an ongoing international rescue operation. The aquarium described Peekachu as “unique,” noting that she was blind in one eye and one of the smaller whales, but still managed to socialize and adapt to her new environment.
Initially showing signs of progress by eating squid, herring, and capelin provided by caretakers, Peekachu later experienced a decline in appetite and was found to be dehydrated during a blood test. Despite efforts to administer medication and fluids, Peekachu passed away suddenly on Tuesday evening, with a necropsy currently underway.
Marineland expressed sadness over Peekachu’s death but assured that the remaining whales are receiving top-notch care at the Shedd Aquarium. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson extended her condolences, acknowledging the challenging news and commending the efforts of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in facilitating the rescue mission.
Following Peekachu’s passing, the focus shifted to the relocation of four dolphins (Echo, Lida, Marina, and Tsunami) from Marineland to a new home in Spain, marking the end of Canada’s captive dolphin population. Animal Justice’s legal advocacy director, Kaitlyn Mitchell, emphasized the long-standing health issues among the belugas and expressed concerns over the risks associated with their relocations.
Mitchell highlighted previous challenges faced by belugas exported to the U.S. in 2021 and criticized the handling of the current rescue operation, suggesting that better care could have been provided before moving the animals. Despite these concerns, plans are in place to transfer the six remaining belugas at Marineland to a U.S. aquarium as part of the park’s decision to relocate all its animals due to financial constraints.
Originally intended for transfer to an aquarium in China, the belugas and dolphins faced obstacles due to legal restrictions, leading to their redirection to various American and Spanish aquariums. The saga surrounding Marineland’s animals underscores the complexities of wildlife conservation efforts and the need for careful consideration in managing captive marine mammal populations.