A fourth beluga whale has died at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago after being rescued from the closed Marineland park in Ontario. The 26-year-old female, named Osiris, was one of thirty whales transferred from the Canadian waterpark, a move that has now seen four fatalities attributed to challenges adjusting to the relocation.
Health complications after arrival
Shedd Aquarium said in a statement that the animals had already been diagnosed with various health conditions when they arrived from the Ontario park, which had also closed. These whales, along with four dolphins, were set to be euthanised before the Canadian government signed a last-minute deal to move them across the border.
According to the Daily Express, 20 whales—19 belugas and one orca—had died at the Marineland park in Ontario since 2019. Three other whales, Jellybean, Peekachu and Rain, have already died since their transfer from Marineland to Shedd.
Osiris's decline
The most recent animal, Osiris, was described as a "whale of clinical concern" when she arrived, struggling with eating and exhibiting out-of-the-ordinary behaviour. A statement noted: "Osiris experienced periods of meaningful progress, both nutritionally and socially, but her overall condition remained closely monitored. Her condition declined rapidly and she passed away despite lifesaving efforts."
Andrew Trites, director of the University of British Columbia's Marine Mammal Research Unit, said it was concerning that the four belugas had died "so shortly after arriving in their new homes." The belugas were kept in small, confined spaces when flown from Marineland to Shedd, but Trites noted this is not out of the ordinary, as the whales often swim in narrow spaces between sheets of ice and "should be reasonably well adapted to that sort of condition."
Campaigners question handling
Animal welfare campaigners have questioned how the rescue was handled. Camille Labchuk, executive director of Canadian group Animal Justice, said: "The narrative that there was no choice but to move these sensitive, highly intelligent animals within an irresponsibly short timeline is false." She also accused Marineland of rushing the relocation and criticised the Canadian government's oversight.
