Four more belugas arrive at Chicago aquarium from shuttered Canadian
theme park
[August 15, 2026]
By CYBELE MAYES-OSTERMAN
CHICAGO (AP) — Four more belugas have arrived at a Chicago aquarium as
part of a plan to move Canada's last remaining captive whales from a
shuttered theme park to aquariums in the United States and Spain.
The four whales, named Caspian, Peekachu, Rain and Secord, were the
second group of belugas sent to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium from Marineland,
in Ontario near Niagara Falls, after an initial four arrived in July.
They are among a total of 30 whales and four dolphins that will be
transported from Marineland after the Canadian government approved of
the rescue plan, which might have saved them from mass euthanasia.
Marineland announced in early 2023 that it was for sale and closed to
the public in late summer 2024. Twenty whales — 19 belugas and one
killer whale — have died at Marineland since 2019, according to
provincial government data obtained through freedom-of-information laws
and official statements.
As part of the rescue efforts, the whales have been making their
international trips in custom-built slings and temperature-controlled
transport containers. A team of experts flew to Canada to meet the
whales’ previous caretakers months prior and pored over years of their
health records in preparation for the trip.
“This is a very complex and unprecedented rescue effort. This has never
been done before,” said Charlie Jacobsma, the director of animal
behavior and training at the Shedd Aquarium.
The new arrivals first interacted with other whales already at the
aquarium through gates to find the best aquatic roommates, he said. The
whales for now live in the same space as three other belugas, and they
trade “signs of affiliation” and sounds with each other.
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This photo provided by the Shedd Aquarium shows a rescued beluga
whale arriving, Aug. 13, 2026, at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
(Gavin Wright/Shedd Aquarium via AP)
“Belugas are very social animals,” he said. “It was really special
to be able to see some of our animals pairing up with these new
animals.”
Dr. Karisa Tang, Shedd’s lead veterinarian, said all the belugas are
taking the adjustment to their new home “day by day.”
Tang said the whales are monitored “hour by hour, minute by minute,”
including their food intake, interactions with other animals and
signs of their mood, like “relaxed swimming.” Caretakers look for
signs of soreness or bruises on their bodies.
Belugas have “great personalities” and expressive faces, she said.
“Every single day it is an absolute joy to work with belugas,” she
added. “There’s something about them that seems magical.”
Under the plan, the belugas and dolphins are being relocated to five
marine parks: Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in
Atlanta, SeaWorld locations in San Antonio and San Diego, and
Oceanografic Valencia.
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