A 26-year-old female beluga whale named Osiris has died at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago after being relocated from a closed Canadian marine park.
CBS News reported the death citing a statement from the aquarium, which confirmed the marine mammal died on Monday morning, September 21.
Osiris arrived in Chicago at the end of July as part of an international operation to relocate 30 beluga whales remaining at Marineland in Canada following the park's closure in 2024.
Veterinary staff considered Osiris a clinically complex patient upon her arrival, as she showed signs of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
Her condition had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, with the whale beginning to eat and interact more actively with other rescued belugas at the facility.
However, staff members noticed sudden changes in her behaviour and breathing on September 21, prompting them to move her to a medical enclosure. Caregivers attempted to treat her, but her heart stopped beating, and her cause of death remains unknown.
Recent deaths at the aquarium
The loss of Osiris marks the third death among the beluga whales rescued from Marineland and the fourth mortality recorded at Shedd Aquarium in recent weeks.
Earlier in September, the aquarium reported the deaths of 23-year-old Pikachu, 20-year-old Reign, and a 34-year-old beluga named Beethoven, who had lived at Shedd Aquarium for many years.
Another beluga whale rescued from the Canadian facility, named Jerry Bean, died during a transfer to the Oceanogràfic aquarium in Valencia, Spain.
Aquarium management said team members will continue 24-hour monitoring of all remaining animals and will share detailed lab test results to determine why the animals died.
International rescue effort
The United States government officially confirmed plans to transport 28 beluga whales out of Marineland to facilities across the country.
Representatives from participating American aquariums promised high-standard living conditions for the whales, including guaranteed water quality monitoring and constant medical care.
An additional two belugas from the Canadian site are scheduled for rescue by the Oceanographic Center of Valencia, which is awaiting final authorization from Spanish government authorities.
Shedd Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Chicago, Illinois, home to thousands of aquatic animals. Beluga whales are Arctic and sub-Arctic marine mammals known for their distinctive white color and social nature, while Marineland of Canada was a long-operating themed marine park located in Ontario.
