Shedd Aquarium rescues four more beluga whales from Canada

Four additional beluga whales arrived at the Shedd Aquarium from a closed Canadian marine park Thursday morning in the second wave of an international rescue effort.

Like the previous group of four who moved to Shedd last month, all of these belugas are females with established bonds, according to an aquarium news release. The public won’t be able to see Shedd’s newest residents yet, as experts monitor their health behind the scenes.

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  Four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada swim close to one another in a habitat at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026. The whales have been under round-the-clock observation, according to scientists on-site. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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  Beluga whales swim before being transported by a group of experts from Marineland and U.S. aquariums onto a truck via a sling at Marineland of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Aug. 12, 2026. (Carlos Osorio/The Canadian Press)

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  A beluga whale is transported by a group of experts from Marineland and U.S. aquariums onto a truck via a sling at Marineland of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Aug. 12, 2026. (Carlos Osorio/The Canadian Press)

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  Three of four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada swim close to one another in a habitat at Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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  Visitors walk past a habitat closed off to the public where four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada are getting acclimated at Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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  Four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada swim close to one another in a habitat at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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  Workers walk past a habitat closed off to the public where four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada are getting acclimated at Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026, in Chicago.  (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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  Two of four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada swim in a habitat at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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  A sign is posted informing visitors of four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada as they get acclimated in a habitat at Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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  Beluga whale named Sierra is transported by a group of experts from Marineland and several U.S. aquariums onto a truck at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on July 20, 2026. (Carlos Osorio/The Canadian Press)

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  A Beluga whale named Sierra splashes water out of the trailer while being transported by a group of experts from Marineland and several U.S. aquariums onto a truck at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on July 20, 2026. (Carlos Osorio/The Canadian Press)

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  A convoy transports six beluga whales from Marineland as they head toward Toronto Pearson International Airport en route to U.S. aquariums, in Beamsville, Ontario, on July 20, 2026. (Carlos Osorio/The Canadian Press)

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  Beluga whale Sierra is transported by a group of experts from Marineland and several U.S. aquariums onto a truck via a sling at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, July 20, 2026. (Carlos Osorio/The Canadian Press)

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  Signs are displayed on a tank for beluga whale Acadia to be transported by a group of experts from Marineland and several U.S. aquariums at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, July 20, 2026. (Carlos Osorio/The Canadian Press)

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Four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada swim close to one another in a habitat at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026. The whales have been under round-the-clock observation, according to scientists on-site. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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Thirty whales are being evacuated from Marineland of Canada, a closed marine park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. According to a previous news release, Marineland’s owners threatened to euthanize the belugas. Shedd staff previously said they hope to rescue 10 whales, leaving just two more left to move to Chicago.

Facilities in the U.S. and Spain plan to take the rest. Georgia Aquarium rehoused two belugas in the most recent effort, stopping in Chicago before continuing to Atlanta, according to the Shedd news release.

Johnny Ford, vice president of communications at Shedd, previously said its habitats were built to hold “far more” animals than it currently has, and these facilities could probably house even more after the transfer of all 10 belugas. Eight belugas lived in the aquarium prior to the rescue effort.

The new belugas’ names are Caspian, Peekachu, Rain and Secord, according to the news release. Their ages range from 20 to 27 years old.

Each one has their own unique characteristics. Peekachu, for example, has a nonfunctional right eye, while Secord enjoys moving enrichment items around the habitat with her mouth.

Beluga whales are found globally in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Many are near Alaska.

Some beluga populations are listed as endangered or depleted. Weighing an average of 3,150 pounds, the whales have been hunted for subsistence, commerce and sport.

In late July, Karisa Tang, lead veterinarian and vice president of animal health at Shedd Aquarium, said the remaining beluga rescues would take place within the next several weeks. Aquarium staff declined to provide a more specific timeline on when those rescues might take place or when the whales would be visible to the public.