Two young beluga whales named Gimli and Yukon have left a shuttered marine park in Canada for the last time, bound for a new life at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. WTTW confirmed that the pair — a 7-year-old and an 8-year-old, both male — are set to join the aquarium's beluga pod inside the 3-million-gallon Abbott Oceanarium.

Their departure closes a painful chapter. Chicago Sun-Times reports that with their exit, 30 belugas and four dolphins have now been shipped out of Marineland for four U.S. aquariums and one facility in Spain — an unprecedented international evacuation of captive cetaceans.

"There will no longer be any beluga whales or any other type of whales in captivity in Canada at the end of today," Andrew Burns, Marineland's adviser, told The Canadian Press, as quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times.

A Park Built on Threats and Broken Promises

Marineland, a longtime tourist attraction perched above Niagara Falls in Ontario, closed to the public in 2024. Chicago Sun-Times reported that Marineland officials, citing severe financial difficulties, had threatened to euthanize the whales if permanent homes could not be found.

The crisis deepened when the park sought to export the animals to a large theme park in China. Canada's Fisheries Minister blocked the plan on animal welfare grounds. WTTW notes that the rejection left Marineland threatening the whales' lives, which in turn forced a rapid international response.

Underlying all of it was Canada's 2019 Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. DIVE Magazine reports that the legislation — popularly called the "Free Willy" law — outlawed holding whales, dolphins, or porpoises in captivity, with fines of up to CA$150,000 for violations. Marineland's owners had long argued the law was unconstitutional.

An Aquarium Built for the Job

Shedd was not a random choice. Shedd Aquarium was selected because of its AZA accreditation, its deep institutional experience with belugas, and the physical scale of its Abbott Oceanarium — which features six interconnected cold-saltwater habitats reaching up to 30 feet in depth.

Before any whale arrived, Shedd's veterinary and animal care teams traveled to Canada to observe the animals individually and build tailored rescue plans. Shedd Aquarium says daily water-quality testing tracks temperature, pH, salinity, and other parameters to keep every environment within healthy ranges.

The logistics of transport were staggering. Whales traveled by truck from Niagara Falls to Toronto, then aboard a Boeing 777 cargo aircraft, each animal secured in a custom stretcher fitted to its individual frame. WBEZ Chicago quoted Charlie Jacobsma, Shedd's director of animal behavior and training: "This operation is so complex and every animal is different, and we tailor all of the transport equipment per animal."

Settling In — and One Heartbreaking Loss

The first four belugas from Marineland — all females chosen for their preexisting social bonds — arrived at Shedd's Abbott Oceanarium, followed by four more. Shedd Aquarium said staff began working around the clock to acclimate the animals, and that the rescued belugas were not immediately viewable by the public.

Not everyone made it. One of the second group of arrivals, a 23-year-old female named Peekachu, died suddenly after reaching Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times reported. Her death brought the expected total at Shedd from 18 down to 17.

Staff watch for specific behavioral signals — eating full meals, exploring the habitat, and engaging socially with other whales — as the clearest indicators of recovery. Shedd Aquarium described its team as "cautiously optimistic" as early positive signs began to emerge.

The End of an Era in Canada

Animal rights advocates had pushed for the whales to be transferred to a proposed marine sanctuary off the coast of Nova Scotia. But no such facility exists yet. WBEZ Chicago reported that Shedd officials said there is currently no sea pen that meets the standards required to care for these animals.

The departure of Gimli and Yukon nonetheless marks a milestone that advocates have called a partial victory. WTTW noted that Canada's "Free Willy" law means the transfer of the last Marineland cetaceans leaves the country with no whales or dolphins held in captivity — for the first time in modern history.

For Gimli and Yukon, the journey is over. The hard work of healing is just beginning.