Four belugas — Caspian, Peekachu, Rain and Secord — have been moved from Marineland, Ontario, to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium as part of an international rescue transferring 30 whales and four dolphins. The transfers, approved by the Canadian government, used specialized slings and temperature‑controlled containers and followed months of veterinary review. Shedd staff say the animals are being closely monitored as they adjust socially and physically to their new habitat.
Four More Belugas Arrive At Shedd Aquarium As International Rescue From Marineland Continues
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)
Four additional beluga whales — Caspian, Peekachu, Rain and Secord — have arrived at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium as part of a government-approved rescue plan to relocate Canada's last remaining captive whales from Marineland in Ontario to facilities in the United States and Spain.
The quartet is the second group sent to Shedd, following an initial shipment of four belugas that arrived in July. They are part of a larger transfer that will eventually move 30 whales and four dolphins out of Marineland after Canadian authorities approved the relocation plan that officials say helped avert the possibility of mass euthanasia.
Complex, Careful Transfer
According to Shedd staff, the international moves required custom-built slings, temperature-controlled transport containers and extensive advance planning. A team of specialists traveled to Canada months earlier to meet Marineland caretakers and review years of veterinary and health records before the journeys began.
"This is a very complex and unprecedented rescue effort. This has never been done before," said Charlie Jacobsma, director of animal behavior and training at the Shedd Aquarium.
Adjustment And Monitoring
On arrival, the new belugas were introduced to resident animals through gated partitions so staff could determine appropriate social pairings. The four now share space with three resident belugas and are exchanging vocalizations and what caretakers describe as "signs of affiliation."
Dr. Karisa Tang, Shedd's lead veterinarian, said the animals are being monitored "hour by hour, minute by minute," with staff tracking food intake, social interactions, swimming behavior and any signs of soreness or bruising. Tang praised the animals' personalities and expressive faces, calling daily care "an absolute joy."
Background And Broader Plan
Marineland announced it was for sale in early 2023 and closed to the public in late summer 2024. Provincial records obtained through freedom-of-information requests and official statements show that 20 whales — 19 belugas and one killer whale — have died at Marineland since 2019.
The relocation plan distributes animals among five facilities: Shedd Aquarium in Chicago; Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta; SeaWorld parks in San Antonio and San Diego; and Oceanogràfic Valencia in Spain. Organizers say the effort is unprecedented in scale and logistics for transporting large marine mammals across international borders.
Reporting note: Mayes-Osterman is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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