Third Beluga Whale Dies at Chicago Aquarium After International Rescue
Osiris, 26, died Monday, less than a week after another rescued whale passed away in Spain, raising concerns about the animals' adjustment to new environments.
A third beluga whale has died at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, part of an international effort this summer to rescue 30 whales from a shuttered Canadian marine park. Osiris, a 26-year-old female, died on Monday, the aquarium announced. This follows the death of Jelly Bean, a beluga rehomed to Oceanogràfic de València in Spain, less than a week prior.
Both aquariums described the deaths as sudden and unexpected, attributing them to the challenges the whales faced in adjusting to new environments. Beluga whales are known to be particularly susceptible to environmental changes, including climate change, pollution, and other stressors, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. The Cook Inlet population of beluga whales in Alaska is classified as endangered, having seen an nearly 80% decline between 1979 and 2018.
Shedd Aquarium took in 10 belugas and four dolphins from Marineland, an Ontario park that closed and could no longer care for its animals. The Canadian government approved a last-minute agreement to transfer its remaining captive whales to facilities in the U.S. and Spain, preventing euthanasia. Marineland, located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, had announced it was for sale in early 2023 and closed to the public in late summer 2024. Provincial data indicated that 20 whales had died at Marineland since 2019.
The rescued whales were transported in specialized slings and temperature-controlled containers. Shedd Aquarium staff stated they had been monitoring the whales' health minute-by-minute since their arrival. Two other belugas, Peekachu and Rain, died at Shedd in late August and early September after their transfer from Canada. Another beluga that had resided at the aquarium for decades also died around the same time.
Osiris had been identified as a "whale of clinical concern" upon her arrival at Shedd, according to the aquarium's statement. Her inconsistent eating habits complicated efforts to maintain her hydration and nutrition. While she experienced periods of progress, her overall condition remained closely monitored.
Her caretakers observed sudden changes in Osiris' behavior and breathing patterns on the morning of her death. She was moved to a medical habitat, but her condition rapidly declined, and she died despite lifesaving interventions. Similarly, Jelly Bean at the Spanish aquarium experienced feeding difficulties, prompting intensified monitoring despite periods of improvement.
Other U.S. aquariums that received whales from Marineland include the Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld locations in San Diego and San Antonio. Whales at the Georgia Aquarium have shown decreased appetites, though no issues were found upon examination. SeaWorld reported its rescued whales are in stable health.
Shedd Aquarium has notified NOAA Fisheries of Osiris' death. Aquariums are required to formally submit the names and causes of death for deceased whales within 30 days and provide necropsy reports upon request. Shedd Aquarium intends to conduct necropsies for the deceased whales and will share the confirmed results.