The Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago is part of an international effort to rescue dozens of beluga whales from a shuttered marine park in Canada. The aquarium is preparing to rescue and rehome up to 10 beluga whales from Marineland of Canada, a shuttered zoo and amusement park in Ontario.
Rescue Efforts
The Shedd is one of several facilities expected to take part in the rescue of 30 stranded beluga whales. Other participating facilities include aquariums in Georgia, San Diego, San Antonio, and Spain. The rescue is slated to begin in the next few weeks.
Marineland closed in 2024 after the passage of a 2019 Canadian federal law banning the keeping and use of whales, dolphins, and porpoises for breeding or entertainment. The park has also faced scrutiny from animal rights activists over its treatment of marine life.
Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, Canada’s zoological governing body, asked the Shedd to take part in the rescue. The Chicago aquarium then developed a rescue plan to transport and acclimate the whales.
The belugas will be transported into the Shedd’s 3 million-gallon Abbott Oceanarium, complete with six interconnected habitats that are up to 30 feet deep. After they arrive, the rescued whales will continue to be monitored for positive social behaviors like grooming, foraging, and eating well, which are all signs that they are adapting well.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
