Chicago – The Shedd Aquarium announced Tuesday that Peekachu, a 23‑year‑old female beluga whale rescued from the now‑closed Marineland park in Ontario, Canada, died suddenly while staff were trying to rehydrate her.
Rescue and transport
Peekachu was one of eight belugas transferred from Marineland to the Shedd this summer – four arrived in July and four more in August. The move was part of a broader effort to find new homes for the park’s 30 beluga whales and four dolphins after Marineland shut its doors in 2024. The Canadian government approved the export plan in January, allowing the whales to be relocated to the Shedd and four other marine facilities.
Journey to Chicago
The whales were lifted in custom‑made slings and placed in temperature‑controlled containers for the hundreds‑of‑miles journey. Upon arrival, aquarium officials monitored the animals’ behavior and health minute by minute, according to statements provided to the Associated Press.
Peekachu’s condition
Peekachu was blind in one eye and had difficulty socializing with other whales, the aquarium noted. After the trip, caretakers observed early signs of progress, but blood samples taken on Tuesday indicated dehydration. As staff administered food and medication that evening, the whale’s condition deteriorated and she died.
Impact and next steps
The Shedd Aquarium said it remains committed to transparency and will share a necropsy report as soon as it is completed. The loss underscores the challenges of relocating large marine mammals and the importance of careful, humane handling.
Future relocations
Marineland’s remaining whales and dolphins are slated for transfer to other facilities, including the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, SeaWorld locations in San Antonio and San Diego, and Oceanogràfic in Valencia, Spain.
Twenty whales – 19 belugas and one killer whale – have died at Marineland since 2019, according to provincial government data obtained through freedom‑of‑information requests.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
