Animal Justice urges investigation into Marineland beluga death in Chicago, wants relocation efforts halted

Rescue plan gives the whales 'best chance at survival,' says office of Canada's fisheries minister

Animal Justice is calling for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to investigate the death in a Chicago aquarium of Peekachu, a 23-year-old beluga from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont.

The national animal law advocacy organization also wants DFO to halt the ongoing relocation efforts of marine mammals from the shuttered theme park until an investigation is completed.

Peekachu arrived at Shedd Aquarium on Aug. 13 and died on Aug. 25.

Kaitlyn Mitchell, Animal Justice's legal advocacy director, has asked in a letter to Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson that DFO determine how Peekachu was approved for transport "despite apparent underlying health problems."

Health assessments of the whales by an accredited Canadian veterinarian were required before the move. A source also told CBC News in January that Marineland had to confirm the assessments in writing.

Shedd Aquarium has said Peekachu was dehydrated and wasn't eating well.

"On Tuesday evening, as teams worked to provide her with medicine and fluids, Peekachu passed away suddenly," it said in an earlier statement, adding a necropsy is being conducted.

"From the outset of this rescue, we understood each animal would be navigating a significant transition and that their complete health picture, including conditions that may have developed over time, could only become clearer through ongoing assessment and care."

DFO says 'reasonable steps' taken for whales' safety

CBC reached out to Marineland for comment but hadn't heard back by publication time.

In a statement, Thompson's office said "Peekachu’s death is difficult news."

It said the Canadian government has "taken reasonable steps" to ensure the whales' safety. Those steps included issuing the necessary CITES permits following a review of the transportation plan, and issuing Fisheries Act authorizations after individual health assessments for each whale were done.

"The minister has the utmost confidence in the rescue plan, which gives these animals the best chance at survival, and in the experienced professionals caring for them."

Mitchell's letter asks that the transportation of six remaining belugas — the last captive whales in Canada — be halted until an investigation into Peekachu's death is completed and it's proved that the other whales are healthy enough to make the trip to their new homes.

"Cetacean transport is an inherently stressful and potentially dangerous process, particularly for animals whose health may already be compromised," it says.

A total of 30 belugas and four dolphins were set to be relocated as Marineland moves all of its animals off the property. The park, which is for sale, has said it's running out of money and can no longer afford to care for the animals.

'Emergency rescue' of Marineland belugas begins

Marineland had originally sold its belugas and dolphins to an aquarium in China, but Ottawa blocked the move, saying it violated the spirit of a 2019 law. That law bans whale and dolphin captivity, and doesn't allow breeding and performances.

After Thompson nixed the move to China, Marineland threatened to euthanize its whales unless Ottawa provided an emergency infusion of cash.

The park then turned to a consortium of American and Spanish aquariums for help. Its belugas have also been shipped to SeaWorld locations in San Diego and San Antonio, and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.

Naomi Rose is a senior scientist for marine mammal biology at the Animal Welfare Institute in Washington, D.C., and a member of the board for the proposed Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia.

Rose agrees with Animal Justice's call for an investigation.

She accused Marineland of "washing their hands" of the whales.

"[Belugas] are intelligent, social, long-living animals. They deserve someone to be accountable. And the accountable party is not stepping up to the plate."

Rose also expressed concerns that "more whales will die."

Rose said Peekachu may have been suffering from storage disease — a genetic condition that causes buildup of fats, sugars and other cellular material "that can damage organs," and is exacerbated by stress.

"They're already stressed out just living at Marineland, and then they're transported."

Referring to the relocation process, Rose added that the whale are "taken out of the water, they're put in stretchers, they're put in boxes, they're put on planes, they're put on trucks, there's a lot of noise, they're stranded."

Two of the three whales that died at Mystic Aquarium from 2021-2023 after being moved from Marineland were diagnosed with storage disease after their deaths, according to Mystic.

Rose said the Marineland whales are being transported to different facilities and being separated, causing them more stress.

She said these issues aren't the fault of the facilities receiving the whales, and feels Marineland should have waited to send the whales to a sanctuary.

However, Marineland's owners said in a report in 2025 that the proposed Nova Scotia sanctuary is too polluted and isn’t on track to being developed soon enough.

Why it’s so hard to find a new home for Marineland’s 30 belugas

Marineland says its belugas shouldn't go to Nova Scotia's Whale Sanctuary Project

Rose, who described a lose-lose situation for the whales, said she disagrees with the Animal Justice letter asking that the whales be kept at Marineland for the time being, because she feels the belugas would still be at risk.

"I don't know what the right answer is. None of us do."

Aura Carreño Rosas is a reporter at CBC Hamilton. She's originally from Venezuela. She has extensive experience in covering stories about immigrants and migrant workers as well as interesting people with diverse journeys. You can contact her at aura.carreno.rosas@cbc.ca

With files from Carly Thomas, Saira Peesker, The Canadian Press