Beethoven had been part of Shedd’s beluga pod for more than three decades, while Rain had only recently arrived at the aquarium
Credit: Brenna Hernandez and Heidi Zeiger/Shedd Aquarium
NEED TO KNOW
- Shedd Aquarium announced the deaths of Beethoven, 34, and Rain, 20, on Wednesday, Sept. 2
- The deaths came one week after the aquarium announced the loss of 23-year-old beluga Peekachu
- Necropsies, blood tests and additional examinations are underway to determine what happened
Shedd Aquarium is mourning the deaths of two beluga whales who died just one week after the loss of another beluga.
Beethoven, a 34-year-old male who had called the Chicago aquarium home for more than three decades, and Rain, a 20-year-old female who had arrived only weeks earlier as part of an international rescue effort, have both died, Shedd announced Sept. 2.
The deaths come one week after Shedd announced the death of Peekachu, a beloved 23-year-old female beluga who arrived at the aquarium in July as part of an international effort to relocate whales from Marineland, a shuttered marine park in Canada.
Credit: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium
“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,” Shedd said in a statement.
Beethoven, born in 1992, was the oldest adult male in Shedd’s beluga pod. At approximately 14 feet long and 1,900 pounds, he was also the aquarium’s second-largest beluga, according to Shedd.
Millions of guests encountered Beethoven over the years, with Shedd saying generations of visitors learned about belugas and the threats facing the species through their connection with him. His animal care teams also came to know his individual behaviors, including how he ate and socialized, according to the aquarium.
“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,” the aquarium said.
Credit: Heidi Zeiger/Shedd Aquarium
Rain had only recently arrived at Shedd, where she was beginning to adjust to her new surroundings after being rescued from a closed marine park. She was one of 30 belugas relocated through an international rescue effort, according to the aquarium.
Staff had been getting to know Rain in the short time she was at Shedd, including her personality and relationships with the other rescued belugas. She could be identified by a dark mark along her right side and her rare-shaped melon, according to the aquarium.
Her arrival was part of a much larger effort at Shedd to care for the rescued whales after their relocation. The aquarium said teams had been keeping an eye on the animals around the clock and adjusting their care as they learned more about each individual.
“Helping the whales settle in and providing ongoing care was also a part of the challenge and commitment,” Shedd said.
The circumstances surrounding Beethoven and Rain’s deaths remain unclear.
Shedd said the deaths were unexpected and that necropsies, blood tests and additional examinations are underway. The aquarium said it will share more information as it becomes available, while cautioning that some answers may take time.
“We understand the hope for quick answers and closure. We share that feeling,” the aquarium said. “But caring responsibly for these animals also means allowing the evidence to guide our understanding rather than drawing conclusions too early.”
The announcement follows the Aug. 26 death of Peekachu, whose short time at Shedd came after she was rescued from Marineland alongside a handful of other whales.
Shedd previously described Peekachu as a “unique” whale who made an “immediate and lasting impression” on the people around her.
Credit: Shedd Aquarium
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Staff were administering fluids and medication for possible dehydration when Peekachu, who was blind in one eye, died suddenly, the aquarium said. A necropsy was planned to help provide more information about her death.
Now, Shedd said its animal care and veterinary teams are continuing to monitor all of the belugas in its care nonstop.
“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,” the aquarium said.
Read the full article here
