The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has today posted on its blog: “We are disheartened to share that Osiris, a 26-year-old rescued female beluga that came to us in late July, has passed away.”
This is becoming unbearable. The death of Osiris, who was transported to Shedd from Marineland Canada, follows those of Peekachu and Rain. A fourth whale, Jelly Bean, who was sent to Oceanogràfic Valencia in Spain, has also died.
It was well known among animal welfare organizations that the health of these whales was seriously compromised. Shedd admits this in their blog post, saying that Osiris was “a whale of clinical concern.”
Tonight, we can only mourn this latest passing. There will be more. None of these whales should have been shipped anywhere until they had been examined by competent, independent veterinarians, who could have determined what was in the whales’ best interests.
And now we are seeing the consequences of this so-called “rescue” – a reckless operation to allow these animals to be further exploited for their entertainment value and for breeding.
It is a slow-motion unfolding tragedy.
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Title photo by Sasha Rink/World Animal Protection