(WBEN) - Four beluga whales from Marineland arrived safely Tuesday at Shedd Aquarium’s Abbott Oceanarium in Chicago, marking the first international rescue effort of its kind.
According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Shedd Aquarium has experience in animal rescue and expertise in beluga care. The four whales were part of a group of 30 belugas that remained at Marineland in Ontario after the theme park closed in 2024.
“This moment marks the next chapter for these rescued belugas,” said Dr. Karisa Tang, lead veterinarian and vice president of animal health at Shedd Aquarium. “Now that they are here, the full attention of our care and veterinary teams is on getting to know these whales and providing whatever supplemental support, care, treatment, nutrition and attention we can provide to help them acclimate to their new environment.”
Beluga rescue ©Shedd Aquarium/Heidi Zeiger
Veterinarians specializing in marine mammal medicine and care accompanied the belugas from Marineland to Chicago.
The whales traveled by truck and plane in specialized, water-filled containers.
Because of the complexity of the transport, aquarium officials said they expect to learn more about the belugas’ health and condition as examinations begin.
The four rescued belugas are female whales selected to travel together because of their preexisting social bonds. They are Acadia, 27; Osiris, 26; Sierra, 26; and Lillooet, 21.
Animal care teams at Shedd will work around the clock to help the whales acclimate to their new environment. The belugas are not yet visible to the public.
“As with any of our animals, the best indicator of well-being is individual and social behavior,” said Charlie Jacobsma, director of animal behavior and training at Shedd Aquarium. “We are watching closely for the rescued belugas to eat a full diet, socialize with one another, and investigate the habitat, which are encouraging signs of their progress. We are cautiously optimistic as we start to see some of those initial indicators, and our dedicated team will continue to monitor throughout this process to acclimatize the belugas to their new home, caretakers and pod.”
Shedd Aquarium has committed to caring for up to 10 beluga whales as part of the coordinated rescue effort. SeaWorld San Antonio will care for two Marineland belugas.
Other facilities expected to receive rescued whales include Georgia Aquarium, SeaWorld San Diego and Oceanogràfic Valencia in Spain, pending government approval.
“Our first-hand experience and knowledge from belugas in accredited care directly informs our ability to step in and help when some of the most vulnerable species on the planet need it,” said Andrew Pulver, vice president of animal care at Shedd Aquarium. “From rescue and rehabilitation to relocation and research efforts, we are uniquely positioned to respond responsibly – this is what we do.”
Rescue efforts continue for the animals still at Marineland. Officials said they will apply lessons from the first transport to future moves, with details and timelines expected to change based on the animals’ needs.
