Animal Justice has urged Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to look into the death of Peekachu, a 23-year-old beluga from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., who passed away at a Chicago aquarium. The national animal law advocacy group is also advocating for a pause in the ongoing relocation of marine mammals from the closed theme park until an investigation is concluded.
Peekachu was transferred to Shedd Aquarium on Aug. 13 and died on Aug. 25. Kaitlyn Mitchell, Animal Justice’s legal advocacy director, has requested in a letter to Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson that DFO investigate how Peekachu was cleared for transport “despite evident underlying health issues.”
Before the move, health assessments of the whales by a certified Canadian veterinarian were mandatory, as per reports. Shedd Aquarium indicated that Peekachu was dehydrated and having eating difficulties, and a necropsy is being carried out to determine the cause of death.
DFO has stated that necessary measures were taken to ensure the safety of the whales during transport, including obtaining required permits and authorizations after individual health evaluations. Marineland had originally planned to send its belugas and dolphins to an aquarium in China, but the move was thwarted by Ottawa due to a law prohibiting whale and dolphin captivity.
Naomi Rose, a senior scientist specializing in marine mammal biology, supports Animal Justice’s call for an inquiry into the matter. She expressed concerns over the stress and potential risks associated with transporting the whales, highlighting the need for accountability and proper care for these intelligent and social animals.
Rose warned of the possibility of more whale deaths during transport, citing previous cases where whales from Marineland died due to storage disease post-relocation. She emphasized the importance of ensuring the well-being of the remaining belugas before any further transfers take place.