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Shedd Aquarium reports deaths of three beluga whales including two rescued from a Canadian marine park

The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago reported the deaths of three beluga whales within a single week. The deaths include Rain, a 20-year-old female rescued from a shuttered Canadian aquatic park, and Beethoven, a 34-year-old male who was a long-time resident of the aquarium's pod. A third whale, Peekachu, also died recently despite efforts to provide supportive care. These whales were part of an international rescue effort to re-home 30 belugas from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The park closed due to financial difficulties and faced criticism for unsanitary conditions. The Shedd Aquarium accepted 10 of these whales, with the remaining animals being distributed to facilities in Atlanta, San Antonio, San Diego, and Spain. The aquarium stated that it is currently performing necropsies and blood tests to determine the exact causes of death. Officials noted that while the losses are difficult, the rescue was necessary because the whales had nowhere else to go. Animal welfare groups have expressed concern over the health of the rescued whales and the overall system of keeping whales in captivity.

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