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Four more belugas flown from Canada to new home in Chicago in rescue mission
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Four more belugas—Caspian, Peekachu, Rain, and Secord—have arrived at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium as part of a rescue plan to relocate Canada’s last captive whales from Marineland, Ontario.
- This group is the second transfer after four belugas arrived in July, with a total of 30 whales and four dolphins planned to be moved following Canadian government approval.
- Marineland, which closed to the public in late summer 2024, has seen 20 whale deaths since 2019, prompting the rescue to prevent mass euthanasia.
- The whales are transported in custom-built slings and temperature-controlled containers, and their health and social interactions are closely monitored by experts at the receiving aquariums.
- The relocated belugas are being housed at five marine parks across the US and Spain, including Shedd Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, SeaWorld locations, and Oceanografic Valencia.
