Two beluga whales from Marineland, which passed away shortly after being moved to a Chicago facility, were found to have chronic pre-existing illnesses, according to a statement from the Shedd Aquarium on Friday.
While Shedd Aquarium did not directly attribute the deaths of Peekachu, a 23-year-old female beluga, and Rain, a 20-year-old female beluga, to their pre-existing conditions, they ruled out infectious diseases as the cause. The whales were part of a group of 30 belugas and four dolphins relocated from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, over the summer following financial constraints at the Canadian theme park.
Necropsies conducted by Shedd Aquarium revealed that the belugas had chronic inflammatory disease in their gastrointestinal systems. The examinations indicated that the whales had been suffering from these conditions for an extended period before their transfer to Shedd.
In addition to their underlying health issues, foreign objects like bird feathers, sticks, and rocks were found in the stomachs of the deceased whales, but Shedd concluded that these items did not contribute to their deaths. Marineland also confirmed that these objects were not linked to the fatalities.
Marineland defended its care of the belugas, stating that the animals were housed in large outdoor habitats with their social groups for over two decades. The park highlighted the complexities of transitioning the whales to new environments after many years in their previous home.
The deaths of Peekachu and Rain have raised concerns about the well-being of captive marine animals, with government officials expressing dismay over the circumstances. The move of the belugas and dolphins to Shedd Aquarium and other facilities was intended to provide the animals with a better quality of life, though challenges and health issues have emerged during the process.
