Sharing in the Loss of Beethoven and Rain

Today we share the difficult loss of two beluga whales at Shedd Aquarium: Beethoven, a 34-year-old male who had been part of Shedd’s resident pod for decades, and Rain, a 20-year-old female who arrived several weeks ago as part of the recent international rescue effort.

Losing any animal is extraordinarily difficult. Losing Beethoven and Rain so soon after Peekachu carries a profound weight for the people who knew and cared for them.

Beethoven was deeply known at Shedd. Born in 1992, he was the oldest adult male in the pod and the second-largest beluga at Shedd, at approximately 14 feet long and 1,900 pounds.

Over more than three decades, generations of guests learned about belugas and wildlife through a connection with Beethoven. They learned about the threats to the species, such as climate change, unclean waterways and pollution, and how everyday actions can support animals everywhere. All the while, the animal care teams came to know his behaviors, how he liked to eat and socialize, providing for his needs and offering unwavering commitment to his care. He was part of the fabric of Shedd’s mission to spark compassion, curiosity and conservation and was a familiar presence to millions of guests who encountered the beluga pod over the years.

Rain was only beginning her story here. She arrived at Shedd several weeks ago after Shedd and other accredited aquariums were asked to rescue a pod of belugas from a closed marine park. She was part of an international effort to find new homes for 30 beluga whales. Rain could be recognized by the dark mark along her right side and her distinctly shaped melon. In the short time she was here, our teams were getting to know her personality and the relationships she had with other rescued belugas while giving her supportive care for her acclimation.

That work was part of a much larger effort underway across Shedd. Bringing the rescued belugas safely to their new surroundings was an extraordinary milestone, but it was never the end of the rescue. Helping the whales settle in and providing ongoing care was also a part of the challenge and commitment. Over the past several weeks, teams across Shedd have been observing the rescued whales around the clock, getting to know each individual and adapting care based on what each animal shows us, while continuing the same individualized care for Beethoven and every animal who has long called Shedd home.

These deaths were unexpected and there is still much we do not know about what led to them. Necropsies, blood tests and additional exams are underway to help better understand what happened. Some answers may come quickly, while others will take more time.

We understand the hope for quick answers and closure. We share that feeling. But caring responsibly for these animals also means allowing the evidence to guide our understanding rather than drawing conclusions too early. We will share what we learn, be clear about what remains unknown and continue to update our community as more information becomes available.

From the beginning, we understood that every rescued whale would come with an individual history, health profile and set of needs, and that acclimation would look different for each animal. That remains true today.

What is also true is that Beethoven and Rain were two individual animals, each known and cared for in their own way. Each tremendously missed.

Our animal care and veterinary teams continue to monitor all belugas in our care around the clock.

For now, we are grieving two remarkable animals and holding especially close the people who cared for them.