Another beluga whale rescued from the shuttered Marineland aquarium in Ontario, Canada, has died, SeaWorld in San Diego announced.
Cyprus, a 9-year-old beluga, stopped eating this weekend and declined quickly, said a Facebook post from the aquarium. He was initially doing well since arriving in San Diego in August, but belugas, like many species, can hide their discomfort or face underlying health concerns, the facility said.
That brings the total number of Marineland whales to die since being rescued to six, including four at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium and one at Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.
At the Shedd, the most recent death was Caspian, a 27-year-old female, that died Oct. 7. Peekachu, a 23-year-old female, died Aug. 25, and Rain, a 20-year-old female, died Sept. 2. Osiris, a 26-year-old female, died Sept. 21. The rescued beluga in Spain, Jelly Bean, died Sept. 18.
A resident beluga at the Shedd, Beethoven, also died recently at 34, likely due to age-related issues, the aquarium said.
Marineland closed this summer after facing financial ruin and loud criticism from animal rights activists, some of whom have also questioned the safety of transferring the whales to other aquariums.
The SeaWorld post said, "Like our colleagues at the other AZA-accredited facilities that rescued these belugas, we understood each animal would be navigating a significant transition and that their complete health picture, including conditions that may have developed over time, could only become clearer through ongoing assessment and care."
SeaWorld is still working to acclimate the rest of the belugas from Marineland, and staff acknowledged it would take time for the animals to adjust.
"The other rescued belugas in our care continue to be in stable health and remain under close monitoring as they continue to adjust to their surroundings," the aquarium said. "As we have indicated, this process will take a considerable amount of time. Our commitment to the health, well-being and care of these belugas, like every animal we rescue, continues."
