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Beluga whale dies at Chicago aquarium after rescue from Canada park
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- A 23-year-old female beluga whale named Peekachu died suddenly days after being transported from Marineland in Ontario to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium as part of a rescue effort for Canada's last captive whales.
- Peekachu, who was blind in one eye and had socialization difficulties, showed early signs of improvement but was found dehydrated before her death during rehydration attempts.
- Marineland closed in 2024, prompting a race to relocate its 30 beluga whales and four dolphins to prevent euthanasia, with the Canadian government approving exports to Shedd Aquarium and four other marine parks.
- Since 2019, 20 whales, including 19 belugas and one killer whale, have died at Marineland, highlighting concerns about the facility's conditions.
- The relocated whales are being moved to facilities including Georgia Aquarium, SeaWorld parks in San Antonio and San Diego, and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain, with Shedd Aquarium committed to releasing Peekachu's necropsy report.
