Four out of the six beluga whales that were transported from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, successfully reached the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on Thursday morning. These four female belugas will soon be introduced to four other belugas that were relocated to the aquarium in July during the initial phase of the whale transfers.
At Marineland, a specialized team carefully guided the six belugas into a custom sling before lifting them into tanks. The whales were then escorted by authorities to Toronto’s Pearson airport, where the two male belugas were flown to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, while the female belugas were flown to Chicago.
Upon arrival at the Shedd Aquarium, the female belugas were placed in the Abbott Oceanarium, away from public view, to acclimate to their new environment. The aquarium’s director of animal behavior and training, Charlie Jacobsma, emphasized the importance of allowing the whales to adjust at their own pace through close observation.
The new belugas include Caspian, a 27-year-old with a lively personality; Peekachu, a 23-year-old energetic beluga with a non-functioning right eye; Rain, a 20-year-old beluga with a distinctive forehead; and Secord, a 22-year-old beluga known for her long upper jaw and affinity for enrichment items.
These belugas will soon join the other four belugas already at Shedd Aquarium, forming crucial social bonds. Jacobsma highlighted the significance of familiar companionship among belugas in their new surroundings.
Shedd Aquarium’s animal care team will closely monitor the eight belugas, tracking their food consumption and breathing patterns. Early indications suggest that the belugas are adapting well to their new environment.
Shedd Aquarium has expressed its commitment to rescuing up to two more belugas from Marineland, which closed its doors to the public in 2024 due to financial difficulties. The park had previously intended to sell its belugas to an aquarium in China but faced opposition from the fisheries minister, leading to the current relocation efforts.
In a recent statement, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson acknowledged the successful relocation of additional belugas to Shedd Aquarium and Georgia Aquarium, thanking various organizations and facilities involved in the rescue operation.