Peekachu, a beluga whale previously housed at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has passed away at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, as confirmed by the facility on Wednesday. This unfortunate event occurred on the same day when two other belugas and four dolphins were being relocated to Spain.
The 23-year-old female beluga, part of a group of eight belugas transferred to Shedd two weeks ago, was described as “unique” by the aquarium due to her participation in an ongoing international rescue mission that started a month ago.
According to a post on the aquarium’s blog, Peekachu, who was blind in one eye and one of the smaller whales, demonstrated remarkable adaptability in socializing and navigating her new environment. While initially showing positive signs by consuming squid, herring, and capelin provided by caretakers, Peekachu later experienced a decline in appetite, leading to a diagnosis of dehydration through a blood test.
Despite efforts to administer medication and fluids, Peekachu tragically passed away suddenly on Tuesday evening. A necropsy is currently underway to determine the cause of death.
Marineland expressed sadness over the loss of Peekachu but assured that the remaining whales under their care at Shedd are receiving optimal treatment. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson extended condolences and appreciation to the organizations involved in the rescue efforts.
In a separate development, the four dolphins, Echo, Lida, Marina, and Tsunami, departed Marineland for a new home in Spain, marking the relocation of Canada’s last captive dolphins. Animal advocates, including Kaitlyn Mitchell from Animal Justice, highlighted the challenges faced by belugas during relocations, emphasizing the importance of proper care to mitigate health risks.
The article also mentioned that six belugas remaining at Marineland are scheduled to be transferred to a U.S. aquarium, as part of the park’s initiative to relocate all animals due to financial constraints. Previous attempts to sell the belugas and dolphins to China were thwarted, leading to alternative arrangements with American and Spanish aquariums for their relocation.
As the saga continues, efforts are ongoing to ensure the well-being and safe transitions of these marine mammals to their new environments.