A fourth whale, 26-year-old Osiris, has died after experiencing health challenges following its relocation from Marineland to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The beluga whale's passing was announced by Shedd on Monday morning. Osiris was one of 10 belugas transferred from the now-closed Marineland, located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, as part of the world's largest collective move of captive whales.
Marineland declared it was unable to continue caring for its animals due to financial difficulties. As part of a series of transfers that began in July, Marineland moved 30 belugas and four dolphins to five aquariums worldwide, including locations at Shedd in Chicago, SeaWorld in San Antonio and San Diego, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.
According to Shedd, Osiris had been struggling with her appetite but showed signs of improvement after receiving fluids and medication. However, there was a sudden decline in her condition, prompting the care team to swiftly provide her with immediate medical attention. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of veterinary and animal care teams, Osiris passed away.
The aquarium intends to conduct a necropsy in hopes of understanding the reasons behind her death. This incident marks the continuation of troubling news regarding Marineland's whales, as two others — Rain and Peekachu — also died shortly after moving to Shedd. Additionally, a long-time resident beluga at Shedd, named Beethoven, has recently died, and the cause of these fatalities is still under investigation.
Moreover, another beluga from Marineland, Jelly Bean, passed away at Oceanografic recently. Although the whales had been cleared for relocation by veterinarians and received approval from Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, concerns about their health have persisted. Shedd has notably expressed worries about another whale, Secord, who has not been eating consistently despite efforts to diversify her diet.
Before the transfer, Marineland aimed to sell all 30 of its belugas to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, which holds the Guinness World Record for the largest aquarium. However, Thompson intervened, stating that such a move would not be in the whales' best interest, especially given Canada's 2019 federal law that prohibits whale and dolphin captivity, while permitting the current situation for Marineland's whales. This legislation also prohibits breeding, necessitating the separation of the whales by sex, and bans performances.
As the whales had been facing difficulties in recent years, reports indicate that 19 belugas and one killer whale died at Marineland between 2019 and 2025, with some of those deaths attributed to the new federal laws. Furthermore, it has been suggested that Marineland, which is situated about a kilometer from Horseshoe Falls, has been sold on the condition that all animals must be relocated.
While several hundred deer remain at the site, the future of the relocated whales and their health continues to be a matter of concern. The Shedd Aquarium and other facilities are working diligently to ensure the well-being of the belugas in their care.
