Four out of the six beluga whales that were transported from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Wednesday have safely reached the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago as of Thursday morning. These four female belugas will soon be introduced to four other belugas that were transferred to the aquarium from Marineland in July during the initial whale relocation.
A specialized team at the closed tourist spot in Niagara carefully guided the six belugas one by one into a custom sling before lifting them into tanks on Wednesday. The whales were accompanied by police to Toronto’s Pearson airport, where the two male belugas flew to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, while the female belugas were flown to Chicago.
The female belugas are now situated in Shedd’s 11.3-million liter Abbott Oceanarium, where they will remain out of sight from visitors while they acclimate to their new environment, according to a news release from the aquarium on Thursday. Charlie Jacobsma, the director of animal behavior and training, stated in the release, “This is a significant transition, so we are proceeding through this process hour by hour and day by day, at the whales’ pace.”
The recent additions to the aquarium include Caspian, a 27-year-old beluga with a vibrant personality; Peekachu, a 23-year-old energetic and confident beluga with a non-functioning right eye; Rain, a 20-year-old beluga with a distinctive forehead; and Secord, a 22-year-old beluga known for her extended upper jaw and fondness for pushing enrichment items around.
These new belugas will soon reunite with the other four belugas from Marineland—Acadia, Osiris, Sierra, and Lillooet—with whom they share significant social connections, Shedd mentioned. Jacobsma highlighted, “Belugas typically live in large groups in close proximity to one another as they swim, hunt, and socialize. Having familiar whales nearby boosts confidence in the new arrivals as they explore new habitats, replenish nutrients from the journey, and interact with new caretakers.”
The animal care team at the aquarium will monitor the eight belugas continuously, keeping track of their food consumption and surfacing patterns for breathing. Initial reports indicate that the transition is progressing smoothly, according to Shedd.
Shedd has expressed its commitment to rescuing up to two more belugas from Marineland. Marineland ceased operations to the public in 2024, with the park and its extensive grounds now up for sale.
Before shipping the whales to the United States last month, Marineland housed a total of 30 belugas and four dolphins—the final captive whales and dolphins in Canada. The first transfer on July 20 saw six belugas relocated to new homes at Shedd and SeaWorld in San Antonio. Subsequently, another seven belugas were moved to the San Antonio facility in the following weeks.
Marineland has deemed the complex relocation operation as “unprecedented” and crucial for the survival of the belugas. If the whales are not relocated for any reason, Marineland has stated that they will be euthanized. Currently, 11 belugas and four dolphins remain at the facility, with Marineland aiming to have all whales relocated by the end of the month.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson conveyed appreciation to various organizations involved in the rescue efforts, stating that another group of belugas has safely left Marineland and found new homes at the Shedd Aquarium and Georgia Aquarium. Thompson credited the success of the operation to the dedication of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, the receiving facilities, and all others involved.
