Four beluga whales—named Caspian, Peekachu, Rain, and Secord—arrived at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium in Illinois as part of a program to relocate Canada’s last captive whales from the shuttered Marineland park to facilities in the United States and Spain, saving them from potential mass euthanasia.
The Complex Logistics of Transcontinental Cetacean Transport
The recent arrivals represent the second group of belugas transferred to the Shedd Aquarium from Marineland, an Ontario attraction located near Niagara Falls that announced it was up for sale in early 2023 and closed to the public at the end of the summer in 2024. Provincial government data obtained via freedom of information laws and official releases show that 20 cetaceans—comprising 19 belugas and a single killer whale—have died at Marineland since 2019.
A government-approved rescue plan was initiated to relocate a total of 30 belugas and 4 dolphins across five distinct marine facilities: the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, SeaWorld sites in San Antonio and San Diego, and Oceanografic in Valencia, Spain.
Executing the international moves required logistical precision. Charlie Jacobsma, director of animal behavior and training at the Shedd Aquarium, stated, “It’s a very complex, unprecedented rescue operation. This has never been done before.” The cetaceans made their journeys inside specially engineered slings and temperature-controlled transport containers. Months prior to the transit, an American expert team traveled to Canada to consult with the whales’ former trainers and meticulously review years of medical documentation.
Integration and Round-the-Clock Monitoring at Shedd Aquarium
Upon arriving in Chicago, the new whales were initially housed separately from the resident population. They interacted with existing animals through partitions to determine optimal tank placement and tankmate compatibility, according to Jacobsma. The incoming belugas currently share aquatic space with three resident belugas, exchanging vocalizations and “affiliation signs.”
“Belugas are very social animals,” Jacobsma noted. “It was really special to be able to see some of our animals bond with these newcomers.”
Dr. Karisa Tang, head veterinarian at the aquarium, confirmed that the animals are adapting to their new environment on a daily basis. The veterinary staff tracks the whales hour by hour and minute by minute. Monitoring focuses closely on dietary intake, social interactions, and physical behavioral indicators such as a relaxed swimming posture, alongside routine checks for bodily bruising or signs of discomfort.
“They have tremendous personalities,” Dr. Tang added, highlighting their expressive faces. “It is a true joy to work with belugas, day in and day out. There is something magical about them.”
The Rescue Mission
The relocation effort involves the distribution plan of the surviving population of marine mammals to specialized international aquariums equipped to manage their ongoing behavioral and medical requirements under close veterinary oversight.
