Peekachu, a beluga whale that was recently transferred from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has passed away at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The aquarium announced the sad news on Wednesday, the same day when two other belugas and four dolphins were being relocated to Spain.
The 23-year-old female beluga, who was part of a group of eight belugas flown to Shedd two weeks ago, was described as “unique” by the aquarium due to an ongoing international rescue effort that began a month ago. The blog post mentioned that Peekachu, despite being blind in one eye and smaller in size, had no trouble socializing and adapting to her new environment.
Initially showing signs of progress by consuming squid, herring, and capelin from caretakers, Peekachu later experienced a decline in appetite, leading to a diagnosis of dehydration through a blood test. Despite efforts to provide medical care and fluids, Peekachu passed away suddenly on Tuesday evening, with a necropsy currently underway to determine the cause of death.
Marineland expressed sadness over Peekachu’s passing but assured that the remaining whales from their facility are receiving top-notch care at Shedd. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson extended condolences over Peekachu’s death, acknowledging the efforts of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in providing expert care to these animals.
With the relocation of four dolphins to Spain marking the end of captive dolphins in Canada, concerns have been raised by animal advocates regarding the health risks associated with moving these mammals. Kaitlyn Mitchell from Animal Justice highlighted the long-standing health issues among Marineland belugas and emphasized the importance of ensuring their well-being during transitions to new facilities.
Furthermore, plans are underway to transfer the remaining six belugas from Marineland to a U.S. aquarium, as part of the park’s decision to move all its animals off-site due to financial constraints. Despite initial attempts to sell the belugas and dolphins to a Chinese aquarium being thwarted by Canadian regulations, alternative arrangements with American and Spanish aquariums have been made to secure new homes for the marine mammals.
The ongoing developments surrounding the relocation of captive belugas and dolphins from Marineland continue to spark discussions on animal welfare and the responsibilities of facilities housing marine mammals.