Rescued Beluga whale dies in Chicago aquarium; dehydration cited

Peekachu, a 23-year-old Beluga whale rescued from a controversial Canadian amusement park, has died at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. The whale passed away suddenly on Tuesday evening, approximately two weeks after its relocation.

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Blood tests had previously shown that the animal had been dehydrated. Despite treatment and fluid administration, it could not be saved.

According to the aquarium, blood tests conducted prior to Peekachu's death revealed signs of dehydration. Despite receiving treatment and fluids, the animal's condition did not improve, leading to its death. The aquarium stated that Peekachu, who was slightly smaller than average and blind in one eye, had shown progress, eating squid and herring from keepers' hands and showing interest in its new environment. An autopsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death.

The whale's previous home, Marineland, a theme park in Canada, had faced significant criticism for its animal welfare conditions. In 2023, the park threatened to euthanize its 30 remaining whales if it did not receive financial aid from the Canadian government, citing bankruptcy and an inability to afford their upkeep.

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The whale, which was slightly smaller than others and blind in one eye, had actually shown progress, eating squid and herring from the keepers' hands and showing interest in its new environment.

Following these threats, Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans approved a plan to transfer all 30 whales to various aquariums, including five in the United States and one in Valencia, Spain. The relocation of Peekachu was part of this larger effort to save the whales from potential euthanasia.

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An autopsy will now provide 'answers as to what might have contributed to its death.'

Beluga whales typically grow up to five meters long and weigh around 1,500 kilograms. Marineland has a history of animal deaths, including the orca Kiska in 2023, who spent her final years in solitary confinement in a concrete tank, earning her the moniker "world's loneliest whale."

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The 'Marineland' theme park in Canada threatened to euthanize its remaining 30 whales if it did not receive money from the Canadian government.