A female beluga whale named Caspian, aged 27, has passed away at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago after being transported from Marineland. Despite efforts to save her, Caspian succumbed to health complications on Wednesday. This marks the sixth death of animals relocated from the closed theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario over the summer, including four other belugas and one dolphin.
The Shedd Aquarium reported that Caspian had been experiencing difficulties with eating and exhibited abnormal electrolyte levels in her blood, which had become excessively acidic. While these findings provided insights into Caspian’s deteriorating health, the exact cause of her death remains undetermined. The beluga was placed on life support for nearly four hours before passing away.
Previously, necropsies on two other Marineland whales, Peekachu and Rain, who also died at the Shedd Aquarium, revealed they had chronic underlying conditions. The collaborative effort between Shedd and multiple U.S. and Spanish aquariums facilitated the relocation of all 30 belugas and four dolphins from Marineland due to financial constraints and the inability to care for the remaining captive marine mammals in Canada.
Tragically, following the relocation, a beluga named Jelly Bean and a dolphin named Echo also lost their lives at Oceanografic Valencia in Spain. The post-mortem results for the deceased animals are still pending. The relocation initiative aimed to prevent euthanasia for the marine mammals.
