The Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago has taken in 4 more rescued beluga whales from the closed Marineland zoo and amusement park in Canada. This brings the total number of rescued whales at the Shedd to 8.
Rescue Efforts
The Shedd is one of several facilities rescuing 30 beluga whales from the Canadian park. The whales are under around-the-clock monitoring and remain out of guests’ view as they settle into their new homes within the Shedd’s 3 million-gallon Abbott Oceanarium.
“This is a big transition, so we are taking this process hour-by-hour and day-by-day, at the whales’ pace,” said Charlie Jacobsma, Shedd’s director of animal behavior and training. “Through our constant observations, we learn more about each individual, their personality and progress along the way.”
The four new arrivals include all female belugas with pre-established bonds with one another. They join 27-year-old Acadia, 26-year-old Osiris, 26-year-old Sierra, and 21-year-old Lillooet, who also continue to settle into their new home behind the scenes.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
