A female beluga whale named Caspian, aged 27, has passed away at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago after being relocated from Marineland. Despite efforts to save her, Caspian succumbed to her condition on Wednesday. This marks the sixth death among animals transferred from the closed Niagara Falls, Ont., theme park during a massive relocation of whales and dolphins over the summer. Since the relocation, four other belugas and one dolphin from Marineland have also died.
The Shedd Aquarium reported that Caspian had been experiencing eating difficulties and exhibited abnormal electrolyte levels in her blood samples. Additionally, her blood had become excessively acidic, indicating a critical health condition. Although these findings helped the veterinary team understand the severity of Caspian’s illness, the exact cause of her death remains undetermined. Caspian was placed on life support for nearly four hours before she ultimately passed away.
Previously, necropsies conducted on two other Marineland whales, Peekachu and Rain, at Shedd Aquarium revealed that they had chronic underlying diseases. Collaborating with four other aquariums in the United States and Spain, Shedd and Marineland relocated a total of 30 belugas and four dolphins within six weeks during the summer. Marineland had cited financial constraints as the reason for the relocation, stating that they could no longer provide care for the remaining captive whales and dolphins in Canada.
Unfortunately, post-relocation, a beluga named Jelly Bean and a dolphin named Echo passed away at Oceanografic Valencia in Spain. The necropsy results for the deceased animals are still pending. The ongoing deaths of the relocated marine mammals have raised concerns about their well-being and the factors contributing to their early demise.
