Three belugas at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium have died in eight days, with two of the whales arriving from Canada’s shuttered Marineland park just weeks earlier. The aquarium confirmed the deaths of Rain, a 20-year-old female, and Beethoven, a 34-year-old male, on Wednesday. Their deaths followed the earlier loss of Peekachu, a 23-year-old female beluga who died on August 25 after arriving at Shedd on August 13.
The cause of death remains undetermined, though Shedd is conducting necropsies and medical tests. Peekachu’s decline began with behavioral improvements after her arrival, but she struggled to eat consistently and was found severely dehydrated before her death. Staff attempted to treat her with fluids and medication.
Shedd has taken in 10 belugas from Marineland over the past six weeks as part of an international effort to relocate all remaining whales and dolphins from the Canadian park. The operation concluded on September 1, with the last two belugas, Yukon and Gimli, arriving just one day before Rain and Beethoven died.
The ten belugas sent to Chicago were part of a larger group of 30 belugas and four dolphins redistributed across aquariums in the U.S. and Spain. Sixteen belugas went to SeaWorld facilities in San Antonio, Texas, and San Diego, California, while two were sent to Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The final two belugas, Cleopatra and Jelly Bean, along with the four dolphins, were relocated to Oceanogràfic in Valencia, Spain.
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Marineland’s closure followed years of welfare concerns and financial struggles. Between 2019 and 2025, 19 belugas, one killer whale, and one dolphin died at the park, according to government records. The Canadian government initially blocked a proposed transfer of the animals to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, forcing a last-minute agreement with U.S. and Spanish aquariums.
Marineland had warned that the belugas could face euthanasia without emergency funding, but the relocation effort prevented that outcome. The deaths at Shedd now raise questions about the stress of transport and adaptation for animals already under duress.
Shedd’s response to the deaths has focused on transparency, with staff emphasizing the need for further testing. The aquarium has not yet linked the three cases, though the timing suggests a possible connection. For now, the focus remains on determining whether the transfers contributed to the losses.
