Sixth whale rescued from theme park dies weeks after moving to new home
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A sixth whale rescued from a Canadian theme park has died just weeks after moving to its new home.
Cyprus, a nine-year-old male beluga whale, died at SeaWorld San Diego after being taken to the theme park on August 22 from the now-closed Marineland of Canada park in Ontario.
However, Cyprus stopped eating on Saturday, prompting the park’s veterinarian and animal care teams to examine the whale, according to a statement from the park.
An ultrasound uncovered that Cyprus’s intestinal tract was not functioning normally – something that can point to a life-threatening illness. Despite the park’s teams working through the night to help the whale, he died shortly after, the spokesperson says.
The park spokesperson added that Cyprus had seemed to be settling well into his new environment in the run-up to his death, noting that belugas can mask health problems that they are experiencing.
“Cyprus had been doing well since his arrival,” the spokesperson wrote. “He was eating consistently, acclimating to his new environment and interacting with his trainers and animal care team, along with the two other rescued belugas.”
Cyprus is the sixth whale taken from Marineland to die after leaving the park. Four died at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, with a fifth dying at Oceanogràfic València in Spain.
Marineland closed down in 2024 after becoming mired in financial difficulties. A letter previously sent to Canada’s fisheries ministry detailed the park’s concerns about the future of the whales and warned that they may be euthanized if they were not rehomed.
“The gravity of the funding crisis at Marineland cannot be overstated; any further delay jeopardizes the welfare and security of the whales, and we fear we are running out of time to act,” the letter read. “Our only options at this point are to either relocate the whales or face the devastating decision of euthanasia.”
The SeaWorld San Diego spokesperson says that it will closely monitor the health of the other belugas rehomed at the park. For now, they remain in stable health.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
Although Cyprus was only 9 years old at the time of his death, beluga whales can live up to 80 years old, the Arctic WWF says. They can grow up to 5.5 meters long and weigh up to 1500kg.
