Two beluga whales died after being relocated from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., to Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, officials said Tuesday. Shedd Aquarium confirmed the deaths as it reported that it had received several belugas from Marineland, the facility in Ontario that recently closed its whale program.
The aquarium did not specify the exact dates of the deaths or provide causes. It stated that two of the whales entrusted to its care have died since the transfers began. The announcements come as Shedd says it received multiple belugas from Marineland, the source of the animals’ relocation.
Marineland previously announced the transfer as part of its operations, which culminated in the closure of its whale program. The CBC report referenced by Shedd notes the transfer of whales from the Niagara Falls park to U.S. facilities and frames the move as the final chapter in Canadian whale captivity.
Authorities and the institutions involved have not provided further details about the health status of the remaining belugas or the circumstances surrounding the two deaths. There was no immediate information about autopsies or investigations in the statements released by either party.
The development marks a grim endpoint for a high-profile animal welfare and captivity debate in Canada, with ongoing international attention on the fate of belugas moved from Marineland. Further updates are anticipated as Shedd and Marineland release additional information.
