SeaWorld San Diego, a California aquarium, announced the passing of Cyprus, a nine-year-old male beluga whale rescued from Marineland in Ontario. Cyprus, who arrived at the park on Aug. 22, ceased eating on Friday, prompting concerns about his intestinal health. Despite initially appearing healthy and engaging with trainers, the beluga’s condition deteriorated rapidly. SeaWorld highlighted the challenge of detecting underlying issues in belugas and mentioned plans for a comprehensive postmortem examination to determine the cause of death.
Marineland in Niagara Falls faced financial constraints, leading to the transfer of 30 belugas and four dolphins to other facilities. Unfortunately, several of the relocated animals have since passed away, raising questions about their well-being during the transition. SeaWorld assured that the remaining rescued belugas are under close observation and emphasized their ongoing commitment to providing exceptional care for all rescued animals.
In a separate incident, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago reported the death of Caspian, a 27-year-old female beluga also relocated from Marineland. Caspian’s death was attributed to eating issues and abnormalities in her electrolyte levels. The aquarium conducted necropsies on other deceased belugas from Marineland, revealing underlying chronic conditions. Tragically, additional deaths occurred at Oceanografic Valencia in Spain following the relocation, further highlighting the challenges faced by captive marine mammals.