Another beluga whale from Marineland, named Caspian, has passed away at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The 27-year-old female beluga died on Wednesday despite rescue efforts. Caspian is the sixth animal from the closed Niagara Falls, Ont., theme park to die following a large-scale relocation of whales and dolphins over the summer. Since their transfer from Marineland, four other belugas and one dolphin have also died.
Shedd Aquarium reported that Caspian had been experiencing eating difficulties, with blood tests revealing abnormalities in her electrolyte levels, leading to dangerously acidic blood. Although these findings helped the veterinary team understand the severity of Caspian’s condition, the exact cause of death remains unknown. Caspian was on life support for nearly four hours before passing away.
Recently, Shedd conducted necropsies on two other Marineland whales, Peekachu and Rain, determining that they had chronic underlying diseases. Shedd, along with four other aquariums in the United States and Spain, assisted in the relocation of all 30 belugas and four dolphins from Marineland over a six-week period this summer. Marineland had cited financial constraints as the reason for transferring the last captive whales and dolphins in Canada. Unfortunately, a beluga named Jelly Bean and a dolphin named Echo died at Oceanografic Valencia in Spain post-relocation.