Beluga Rescue, Care and Wellbeing
The Next Chapter Begins
Beluga whales living at a closed marine park in Ontario, Canada urgently need rescue and long-term care, and Shedd Aquarium was asked to help. Shedd is working alongside other AZA-accredited institutions for the safe rescue of these whales.
With more than 50 years of animal rescue experience and deep expertise in beluga care, Shedd is prepared to give belugas in need the stability, specialized care and lifelong home they deserve. Thus far, eight female belugas – Acadia, Lillooet, Osiris, Sierra, Caspian, Peekachu, Secord and Rain – have arrived at Shedd and are settling into their new home here in Chicago.
Beluga Rescue, Care and Wellbeing
The Next Chapter Begins
Beluga whales living at a closed marine park in Ontario, Canada urgently need rescue and long-term care, and Shedd Aquarium was asked to help. Shedd is working alongside other AZA-accredited institutions for the safe rescue of these whales.
With more than 50 years of animal rescue experience and deep expertise in beluga care, Shedd is prepared to give belugas in need the stability, specialized care and lifelong home they deserve. Thus far, eight female belugas – Acadia, Lillooet, Osiris, Sierra, Caspian, Peekachu, Secord and Rain – have arrived at Shedd and are settling into their new home here in Chicago.
Acadia, Osiris, Lillooet and Sierra in the Abbott Oceanarium
Rescue is a Moment. Responsibility is our Mission.
When animals are in crisis, rescue is only the beginning. Long-term wellbeing requires expertise, preparation and a lifelong commitment to care.
From rehabilitating stranded sea lions on the California coast to helping save Caribbean corals on the verge of extinction, Shedd Aquarium has spent more than 50 years responding when aquatic animals need help most. With decades of experience in beluga whale care, Shedd is uniquely positioned and qualified to help this species.
Beluga whales living in a closed marine park in Ontario, Canada needed urgent rescue and lifelong care, and Shedd Aquarium was asked to help. We were asked to lend our expertise and to provide these magnificent marine mammals a safe haven and care for the rest of their lives. Rescuing these belugas is a welfare decision rooted in science and sustained by lifelong accountability. It’s also simply the right thing to do, guided by our mission to conserve and protect the aquatic animal world.
Inside Animal Care and Wellbeing
Every decision made for the diverse aquatic animals in Shedd’s care — from habitat design to veterinary care and daily enrichment — is guided by one goal: supporting lifelong wellbeing.
Wellbeing is defined as a state of being comfortable, healthy or happy. At Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facilities like Shedd, this is achieved by looking at care holistically and giving every animal in our care lifelong opportunities to thrive. We believe providing the highest standard of care and wellbeing is our moral responsibility and foundational to our mission.
Animal wellbeing happens in a variety of ways across our mission – from daily actions to large-scale investments. This commitment to wellbeing is further outlined by AZA’s Strategic Framework for the Wellbeing of Animals.
Delve into more about Shedd’s philosophy and practice of animal wellbeing here. Follow along to meet the team that ensures the daily wellbeing of these rescued beluga whales!
The animal care team observes Acadia, Osiris, Lillooet and Sierra as they explore their new habitat
How Science and Care Combine
Every element of how we care for the beluga pod, from feeding them to adjusting the temperature in their habitat, is backed by years of science and proven by observations of exceptional animal wellbeing.
The belugas’ 3-million-gallon, 30-feet-deep home in the Abbott Oceanarium was specifically designed with their needs in mind, recreating a cold, saltwater environment of the Pacific Northwest coast. The pod at Shedd moves between six connected habitat spaces throughout the day, socializing all together or in groupings that can fluctuate throughout the year, encouraging connections and interactions between different individuals as part of their holistic care.
Daily water quality tests in our on-site Aquatic Science Labs ensure that parameters like temperature, pH, salinity and more are within healthy levels. Divers regularly clean the habitats throughout the day, fostering an environment that helps the animals thrive.
A robust animal enrichment program provides novel things for the belugas to explore – challenging their minds, encouraging play and showcasing their unique behaviors like foraging for food and exploring. You can often see the belugas engaging with caretakers during training sessions or eating a variety of restaurant-quality, nutritious seafood. Additionally, trusting relationships between caretakers and the belugas allow for each animal to participate in their own healthcare.
Water quality testing
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There were 30 beluga whales at a closed marine park in Canada called Marineland. The park was in financial crisis and no longer able to support ongoing care for the belugas, prompting the need for a rescue and new, lifelong options for the whales.
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Shedd was invited to participate in this rescue effort because we are accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and we have the experience, habitats and expertise to do so responsibly. With decades of experience in beluga care inside and outside of the aquarium, we are uniquely positioned and qualified to help.
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Accredited aquariums have the dedicated capacity and space to provide a high standard of care for these whales, giving them the best chance to thrive. Their rescue was urgently needed now, and Shedd and accredited partners can provide expert care immediately.
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Before their arrival, Shedd’s veterinary and animal care experts have observed the whales and created rescue and care plans tailored to the needs of the individual animals.
Here at Shedd, there are over 3 million gallons of cold, salty water in the Abbott Oceanarium, and the belugas have access to six interconnected habitats that are up to 30 feet deep. The habitats are specifically designed for the needs and comfort of a robust beluga pod.
Daily water quality tests ensure that parameters like temperature, pH, salinity and more are within healthy levels, fostering an environment that helps the animals thrive. Each rescued beluga will be offered diverse seafood to meet their nutritional needs and have on-site medical care should they need it.
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The behavior of belugas is the best indicator of their wellbeing. Caretakers will be watching closely for the rescued belugas to demonstrate a variety of individual and social behaviors like grooming, foraging, investigating their habitat and eating well – all signs they are adapting nicely to their new home. The care and veterinary teams will be ready to make changes to their habitats, the food they eat, or to administer any medical treatment the animals may require.
What Happens Next?
We want you to be a part of this spectacular journey of beluga rescue and care. Stay tuned for a peek inside the rescue work, get close to the beluga care team, learn more about the science of water quality and habitat preparation, meet the newest belugas in the pod and so much more. That compassion for animals becomes the building blocks to spark curiosity and inspire conservation.
Shared Responsibility – How YOU Can Get Involved
Rescue may begin with experts, but conservation requires community. Water connects us, and we all share a responsibility to protect water and the living things it supports.These belugas’ are in Shedd’s care, but it’s up to us all to protect their wild counterparts and the environments they call home.
Want to help these rescued whales and animals like them?
- Every visit to Shedd contributes to our mission for a world thriving with aquatic life, sustained by people who love, understand and protect it.
- Level up your support with membership — bolster conservation efforts here and around the world while enjoying a year of free admission and benefits
- Make a gift to Shedd to help support exceptional animal care across the aquarium
- Act with Shedd and speak up to protect the Endangered Species Act