Inside the Rescue Mission That Moved Four Beluga Whales to Chicago
Four beluga whales from the bankrupt Marineland park near Niagara Falls were transported to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium by road and air, avoiding euthanasia. The mission involved careful logistics to minimize stress, with the whales now acclimating in a secluded habitat.
In an unprecedented rescue mission, four beluga whales—Acadia, Lillooet, Osiris, and Sierra—were moved from the bankrupt Marineland park near Niagara Falls to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. Marineland, which closed in 2024 after the owners' deaths, announced in 2025 it was considering euthanasia if the animals could not be relocated.
The rescue team, led by Shedd's lead veterinarian Karina Tang and director of animal behavior Charlie Jacobsma, began planning in January 2026. In June, Canada reached an agreement with Marineland for the rehoming. The whales were placed in custom stretchers and transport boxes filled with cold saltwater, driven to Toronto Pearson Airport, and flown to Chicago on a chartered Boeing 777 freighter. Two additional belugas were sent to an aquarium in San Antonio.
"The goal is that they notice as little as possible," Tang said. The team stayed close throughout, monitoring and pouring water on the whales to keep them comfortable. Border crossing was a major challenge, involving cooperation with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the USDA, and international trade treaties.
Currently, the four belugas are housed in a secluded habitat at Shedd under 24/7 surveillance. All adult females in their 20s, they display typical beluga behavior—slow dives and twirls. Jacobsma describes the team as "cautiously optimistic" as the whales eat regularly and forage for enrichment toys.
The mission has drawn criticism from groups advocating for transparency and an end to captive breeding. However, Canadian authorities stated the whales could not survive in the wild. Shedd says it is not focused on breeding now and is open to taking more belugas from Marineland.
