Two beluga whales, Beethoven and Rain, died suddenly at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium on Wednesday, the facility announced. This marks the third whale death at the aquarium in just over a week, intensifying grief for the staff and the community.
Rain, a 20-year-old female, had recently arrived at Shedd Aquarium after being relocated from the defunct Marineland park in Ontario, Canada. Beethoven, a 34-year-old male, was a long-term resident of the aquarium's pod.
The loss of Beethoven and Rain follows the death of Peekachu, a 23-year-old female beluga, who died the previous Tuesday while caretakers were attempting to rehydrate her. Peekachu was among eight beluga whales moved from Marineland to the Chicago aquarium this summer after the Canadian theme park closed its doors in 2024, averting euthanasia for its 30 beluga whales.
"Losing any animal is extraordinarily difficult. Losing Beethoven and Rain so soon after Peekachu carries a profound weight for the people who knew and cared for them," Shedd Aquarium stated. "Our animal care and veterinary teams continue to monitor all belugas in our care around the clock. For now, we are grieving two remarkable animals and holding especially close to the people who cared for them."
Beethoven, who was born in 1992, was described as the oldest male in the pod and had spent decades forming connections with aquarium visitors. Rain, known for a dark mark on her right side and a distinctively shaped head melon, was noted for her unique personality, which staff were beginning to get to know.
The causes of death for both Beethoven and Rain are currently unknown. The aquarium has stated that necropsies, blood tests, and other examinations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Both whales' deaths were unexpected.