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.
The 23-year-old female beluga was part of a group of eight belugas that were flown to Shedd two weeks ago as part of an international rescue initiative. The aquarium described Peekachu as a “unique” whale due to her being blind in one eye and smaller in size. Despite these challenges, she was able to adapt well to her new environment.
Initially showing signs of progress by consuming squid, herring, and capelin, Peekachu later experienced difficulty eating and was found to be dehydrated following a blood test. Despite efforts to provide medical treatment and fluids, Peekachu unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday evening, prompting further examination through a necropsy.
While expressing sadness over Peekachu’s death, Marineland emphasized that the remaining whales are receiving exceptional care at Shedd. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson acknowledged the news of Peekachu’s passing, highlighting the efforts made by accredited zoos and aquariums to ensure the well-being of the animals during the transition.
In a separate development, four dolphins from Marineland, named Echo, Lida, Marina, and Tsunami, departed for a new home in Spain, marking the end of captive dolphins in Canada. Animal advocacy group Animal Justice expressed concern over the well-being of the belugas and dolphins relocated from Marineland, citing past instances of health issues and fatalities among these animals.
With the remaining six belugas in Marineland set to be moved to a U.S. aquarium, a total of 30 belugas and four dolphins are being relocated due to financial constraints faced by the park. Previous attempts to sell the belugas and dolphins to an aquarium in China were thwarted by Canadian regulations prohibiting whale and dolphin captivity. As a result, Marineland sought assistance from American and Spanish aquariums to facilitate the relocation of its marine mammals.