Another beluga whale rescued from the Marineland of Canada has died, the Shedd Aquarium announced Friday.
Caspian is the fourth rescued beluga to die at the Chicago aquarium since their initial arrival in July, joining eight resident whales. A resident beluga at the Shedd, Beethoven, also died recently at 34, likely due to age-related issues, the aquarium said.
Five belugas rescued from the Canadian aquatic park have died in total, out of 30 rescued. One taken in by Oceanografic Valencia in Spain, died last month.
The succession of deaths in less than three months has made it clear that the rescued whales were “made vulnerable by chronic and severe illness,” Shedd spokesperson Johnny Ford told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Limited diagnostic information available about the rescued belugas made it difficult to determine which were most at risk, Ford said.
Caspian’s condition “crashed” earlier this week, the aquarium said, and she was kept on life support for nearly four hours in an attempt to save her.
The deterioration of Caspian and the aquarium’s “intensive efforts” to save her deepen the mystery of what ailed the animal. Blood samples examined this week showed abnormalities in both her electrolyte levels and blood pH, according to a statement from the Shedd.
Her blood pH showed it had become “dangerously acidic,” revealing a clearer picture of how sick she was, the statement said. But the information doesn’t help determine what led to her death.
“Caspian’s loss is felt deeply by the people who knew and cared for her and by those who followed her story,” the statement said. “Our team worked to give her every opportunity to recover. We will share what her examination adds to our understanding with the same care and openness.”
Peekachu, a 23-year-old female, died Aug. 25, and Rain, a 20-year-old female, died Sept. 2. Osiris, a 26-year-old female, died Sept. 21. The rescued beluga in Spain, Jelly Bean, died Sept. 18.
Reports conducted so far on the other whales showed they had preexisting, chronic conditions.
Final reports on the deaths of Peekachu and Rain showed major chronic inflammation in their digestive systems, among other issues like hypertension, liver tissue death and lung scarring.
Experts said these conditions could have elevated their risk of cardiovascular stress, according to the Shedd’s statement.
Preliminary investigations into the death of Osiris identified chronic liver disease, but her report is unfinished.
Animal rights activists in the United States and Canada have questioned whether the belugas were healthy enough to endure the stress of being transferred out of Marineland — in trucks and then airplanes.
“Five dead belugas tells us that after years of neglect at Marineland, these whales were not healthy enough to withstand the stress of transport,” said Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, a Toronto, Canada-based animal rights advocacy group. “It’s heartbreaking that Marineland was allowed to rush through this transfer operation to clear the way for its lucrative land deal. Marineland had years to plan for their retirement to a sanctuary, but failed to do so. Now, the whales are paying the price.”
The rescued belugas were allegedly living in poor conditions at the shuttered aquatic park in Canada, just south of Niagara Falls.
Shedd is part of a consortium of four U.S. aquariums, as well as Oceanografic in Spain, that together agreed to take the belugas languishing in Marineland. The park closed to the public in 2024, citing financial troubles.