If you’ve ever moved to a new house and needed a few days just to figure out where the coffee mugs went, imagine doing that after a multi-hour flight in a water tank, on a cargo jet, with a total change of zip code. That’s essentially what four beluga whales just pulled off, and so far, they’re handling it better than most of us handle a cross-town move.
The whales, named Lilloet, Cadia, Osiris, and Sierra, were rescued from a marine park in Ontario, Canada, that had shut down operations. Rather than leaving their future uncertain, teams arranged for the animals to be relocated, with two of them heading to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and two others continuing on to SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas.
Getting a beluga whale from Point A to Point B isn’t as simple as tossing a suitcase in the trunk, reported NBC Chicago. Each whale had to be guided onto a specially built stretcher, lifted into a water-filled transport tank, and wheeled onto a cargo jet for the flight. It’s the kind of logistics operation that would make even a seasoned auto hauler nod in respect. Everyone involved described the day as an emotional one, and it’s easy to see why. Getting four aging whales safely across an international border, by air, isn’t a small errand.
Now that they’ve landed, the real work begins.
Settling In, Slowly and Carefully
At Shedd, the whales are being kept in a secluded pool, separate from the aquarium’s existing beluga pod, while staff monitor how they adjust, explained ABC News.
Aquarium staff say the whales are showing encouraging signs, including eating and exploring their new surroundings, though everyone involved is staying cautiously optimistic rather than declaring victory just yet.
Middle-Aged Whales, New Digs
The four whales range in age from 21 to 27, which in beluga terms puts them solidly in their prime working years, not exactly retirees, but not spring chickens either.
Right now their diet consists of capelin and herring, two types of fish that presumably beat whatever was on offer at the old park.
Shedd’s habitat includes 3 million gallons of water spread across six interconnected areas, giving the whales space to explore and eventually mingle with the aquarium’s existing multi-generational pod. That’s no small setup, and it should help the newcomers ease into a more social routine over time.
When Can the Public See the Belugas?
Don’t book your trip just yet. Shedd says it could be another three to four months before the whales are ready for public viewing, and the aquarium wants to give them the time they need without rushing the process.