A 23-year-old beluga whale named Peekachu died suddenly Tuesday at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, days after being transported from a shuttered park in Ontario, Canada. Peekachu was one of eight whales moved to the Shedd Aquarium this summer as part of an ongoing effort to rescue Canada's last captive whales. Marineland, an Ontario park, closed its doors in 2024, prompting a race to find new homes for its 30 beluga whales and four dolphins. The Canadian government approved a plan in January to export the whales to aquariums in the U.S. and Spain. Twenty whales had died at Marineland since 2019, according to provincial government data. The complex operation to transfer the whales involved hoisting them in custom slings and holding them in temperature-controlled containers. Upon arrival at the Shedd Aquarium, their behavior and health were continuously monitored. Peekachu was blind in one eye and had difficulty socializing with other whales. Aquarium officials stated she showed early signs of progress after her journey, but blood samples taken Tuesday raised concerns about dehydration. She died that evening as caretakers attempted to rehydrate her with food and medicine. The Shedd Aquarium has committed to releasing a necropsy report. Other whales from Marineland are being relocated to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, SeaWorld locations in San Antonio and San Diego, and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.