Four of the six beluga whales that were transported from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., on Wednesday have safely reached the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago by Thursday morning. The four female whales will soon be joined by four others that were moved to the aquarium from Marineland in July during the initial whale transfers.
At the closed tourist spot in Niagara, a team of specialized workers assisted in transferring the six beluga whales individually into a custom sling before lifting them into tanks on Wednesday. Subsequently, the whales were accompanied by police to Toronto’s Pearson airport. The two male belugas were flown to Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, while the female belugas were transported to Chicago.
The female belugas are currently housed in Shedd’s 11.3-million litre Abbott Oceanarium, where they will remain out of sight from visitors as they acclimate to their new environment, as stated in a news release by the aquarium on Thursday. Charlie Jacobsma, the director of animal behavior and training, emphasized the importance of a gradual transition for the whales, focusing on constant observation to understand each whale’s personality and progress.
The new arrivals include Caspian, a 27-year-old beluga known for his significant personality, Peekachu, a 23-year-old energetic and confident beluga with a non-functioning right eye, Rain, a 20-year-old beluga with a distinctive forehead, and Secord, a 22-year-old beluga recognized for her long upper jaw and affinity for pushing enrichment items around. These new arrivals will soon be reunited with the other four belugas from Marineland, namely Acadia, Osiris, Sierra, and Lillooet, forming crucial social bonds, according to Shedd.
The animal care team at the aquarium will closely monitor the eight belugas, overseeing their food consumption and breathing frequency. Shedd also expressed its commitment to relocating up to two more belugas from Marineland, which has faced financial challenges and can no longer support the welfare of the whales.
Previously, Marineland had 30 belugas and four dolphins, the last captive marine mammals in Canada, before initiating the relocation process to the United States. The first transfer on July 20 involved six belugas moving to Shedd and SeaWorld in San Antonio, followed by another seven belugas sent to the San Antonio facility weeks later. Marineland has described this complex operation as “unprecedented” and crucial for the survival of the whales.
The park’s plan to sell all 30 belugas to a Chinese aquarium was thwarted by the fisheries minister, prompting Marineland to seek emergency funding from the government or consider euthanizing the whales, a move that gained global attention. Eventually, a deal with American and Spanish aquariums facilitated the ongoing series of whale transfers. SeaWorld in San Diego and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain are also expected to welcome some of Marineland’s marine mammals.
If the remaining belugas and dolphins are not relocated, Marineland has stated that euthanasia may be considered. Following the recent transfer, 11 belugas and four dolphins are still at Marineland, which aims to complete the relocation of all whales by the end of the month. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson commended the successful relocation of the belugas to the Shedd Aquarium and Georgia Aquarium, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of various organizations and facilities involved in the rescue operation.