Sixth rescued beluga from Canada dies at San Diego SeaWorld, raising welfare concerns
A 9-year-old beluga named Cyprus, rescued from Ontario's closed Marineland, has died at SeaWorld San Diego, marking the sixth death of a Marineland whale.
SeaWorld San Diego reported that Cyprus, a 9-year-old beluga rescued from the shuttered Marineland aquarium in Ontario, Canada, died after refusing food and deteriorating quickly. This loss brings the total number of Marineland whales that have died since their rescue to six, including four at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium and one at Oceanografic in Valencia, Spain. The most recent Shedd deaths were Caspian on Oct. 7, Peekachu on Aug. 25, Rain on Sept. 2, and Osiris on Sept. 21, while a resident whale, Beethoven, also died of age-related issues.
Marineland’s closure this summer followed financial collapse and intense animal-rights scrutiny, prompting questions about the safety of moving the whales. SeaWorld emphasized that the surviving rescued belugas are in stable health but require ongoing monitoring as they adapt to their new homes.
Why it matters
The deaths highlight challenges of relocating large marine mammals and raise concerns about animal welfare in captive settings.
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