Peekachu, a beluga whale that was recently transferred from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has passed away at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, as confirmed by the facility on Wednesday. On the same day, two other belugas and four dolphins were being relocated to Spain. Peekachu, a 23-year-old female beluga, was part of a group of eight belugas that were flown to the Shedd Aquarium two weeks ago as part of an ongoing international rescue effort that began a month ago. The aquarium described Peekachu as a “unique” beluga who was blind in one eye and smaller in size. Despite these challenges, Peekachu was able to adapt well to her new environment and interact with others.
Initially, Peekachu showed signs of progress by consuming squid, herring, and capelin provided by caretakers. However, her health deteriorated when she stopped eating well, and a blood test indicated dehydration. Despite efforts to provide medical care and fluids, Peekachu passed away suddenly. A necropsy is currently underway to determine the cause of death. Marineland expressed sadness over Peekachu’s passing but reassured that the remaining whales are receiving excellent care at the Shedd Aquarium.
Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson expressed condolences over Peekachu’s death and commended the efforts of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for their swift action in rescuing the belugas. Additionally, four dolphins named Echo, Lida, Marina, and Tsunami have left Marineland for a new home in Spain, marking the end of Canada’s captive dolphin population. Animal advocate Kaitlyn Mitchell from Animal Justice commented on the situation, stating that the belugas at Marineland have been in poor health for a prolonged period, making them vulnerable during the relocation process.
The remaining six belugas at Marineland are scheduled to be transferred to a U.S. aquarium soon, as part of the park’s initiative to relocate all its animals due to financial constraints. Initially, Marineland had planned to sell its belugas and dolphins to a Chinese aquarium, but the move was blocked by Ottawa for violating regulations prohibiting whale and dolphin captivity. Following this, Marineland sought assistance from American and Spanish aquariums to rehome its marine mammals, with some belugas already relocated to SeaWorld facilities.
