Post-mortem examinations conducted on two former beluga whales from Marineland revealed that the whales were already ill upon their arrival at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago last month. Peekachu, aged 23, and Rain, aged 20, were part of a large operation to relocate 30 belugas and four dolphins from Niagara Falls, Ontario, to various aquariums in the United States and Spain. The transfer occurred in six stages over the summer.
Initial medical findings disclosed “significant, chronic gastrointestinal disease” as the cause of death for the two belugas, as per a statement released by Shedd Aquarium. The aquarium noted that the illness had likely been present for a prolonged period, evidenced by the severity of inflammation and specific types of immune cells found, indicating pre-existing health issues before their arrival at Shedd.
Furthermore, post-mortem examinations on the female belugas identified foreign materials in their stomachs, such as bird feathers, sticks, and large rocks in Peekachu’s stomach, and small paint-like particles in Rain’s stomach. Shedd Aquarium clarified that the presence of these foreign materials was not directly linked to the whales’ demise. No communicable diseases were found in the preliminary findings.
According to the statement, Peekachu could not have ingested these materials while at Shedd, suggesting they were present before her rescue. Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist from the Animal Welfare Institute, explained that such incidents occur due to the animals’ curiosity and boredom, leading them to interact with and occasionally ingest foreign objects.
Marineland, which had faced financial difficulties, decided to relocate the belugas and dolphins to prevent euthanasia. Unfortunately, Osiris, a 26-year-old beluga, also passed away after arriving at Shedd Aquarium, along with two other animals rehomed to Oceanogràfic de València in Spain. The Canadian government expressed concern over the necropsy findings, citing neglect of the whales’ health prior to their relocation.
Animal rights advocates raised questions about the animals’ health condition before the transfer, emphasizing the need for thorough assessments to ensure their well-being. The ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these belugas and dolphins, prompting calls for improved animal welfare standards in such relocations.