3rd beluga dies from shuttered Canadian aquatic park

A beluga whale at a Spanish aquarium died Friday, bringing to three the total number of belugas that have died since being shipped out of Marineland Canada this summer — including two at Shedd Aquarium.

Jelly Bean died “suddenly and unexpectedly” Friday, Oceanografic Valencia said in a statement.
“In recent days, Jelly Bean had experienced feeding difficulties, prompting the veterinary team to intensify her monitoring,” the Oceanografic statement reads. “During this period, she showed signs of improvement and remained responsive to her caregivers, while continuing to receive around-the-clock monitoring.”

The Spanish aquarium said it was too soon to give a cause of death.

The aquarium’s other Marineland beluga, Cleopatra, and four dolphins that also came from the Canadian park are all doing well, according to the Spanish facility.

Jelly Bean was one of two belugas trucked and then flown out of the shuttered Marineland Canada aquatic park during the summer. Ten Marineland belugas arrived at Shedd.

Peekachu, a 23-year-old female, died at Shedd Aug. 25. Then, Rain, a 20-year-old female, died Sept. 2, also at Shedd. Both had been rescued from Marineland. A third Shedd beluga, 34-year-old Beethoven, part of the aquarium’s resident population, also died Sept. 2.

Shedd continues to investigate the cause of death of all three belugas.

Shedd is part of a consortium of four U.S. aquariums, as well as Oceanografic, that together agreed to take the belugas languishing in Marineland, located in Niagara Falls, Canada. Marineland had faced criticism for years that its animals were living in unsanitary conditions.

The park closed to the public in 2024, and Marineland officials, citing extreme financial difficulties, had threatened to euthanize the whales if permanent homes couldn’t be found.