Peekachu, a beluga that was recently transferred from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has passed away at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, as announced by the facility on Wednesday. This unfortunate event occurred on 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 that arrived at Shedd two weeks ago, was described as “unique” by the aquarium. The ongoing international rescue mission that started a month ago continued with this relocation effort.
Despite being blind in one eye and one of the smaller whales, Peekachu was known for her adept socializing skills and ability to navigate her new habitat. Initially showing signs of progress by consuming squid, herring, and capelin provided by caretakers, Peekachu’s health took a downturn when she started experiencing eating difficulties, leading to a diagnosis of dehydration through a blood test.
Tragically, Peekachu passed away suddenly on Tuesday evening while receiving medical attention and fluids from the caretaking teams. A necropsy is currently underway to determine the cause of her sudden demise.
Marineland expressed sorrow over Peekachu’s loss but assured that the remaining whales from their facility are receiving top-notch care at Shedd. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson also extended her condolences, acknowledging the challenging situation and appreciating the efforts of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in facilitating the rescue mission.
In a separate development, four dolphins (Echo, Lida, Marina, and Tsunami) departed Marineland to embark on a new journey to a sanctuary in Spain, marking the end of captive dolphins in Canada. The legal advocacy director for Animal Justice voiced concerns about the health risks associated with the relocation of these animals, citing previous incidents of beluga deaths following similar transfers.
Furthermore, plans are in motion to transfer the six remaining belugas, the last captive whales in Canada, to an aquarium in the United States as part of Marineland’s initiative to move all its animals off-site due to financial constraints. After a failed attempt to sell the belugas and dolphins to a Chinese aquarium, alternative arrangements were made with American and Spanish aquariums to accommodate these marine mammals.
The situation surrounding the relocation of marine animals from Marineland underscores the complexities and challenges involved in ensuring their welfare and safety during transitions to new environments.