Jelly Bean, another transported Marineland beluga whale, has died

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Another beluga whale from the shuttered Marineland theme park in Niagara Falls has died after being transferred to an aquarium.

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Oceanografic Valencia in Spain says Jelly Bean died suddenly on Friday after being transferred, according to an animal welfare organization.

“Jelly Bean arrived in Valencia on August 27 alongside another beluga, Cleopatra,” said TideBreakers, a Toronto-based non-profit dedicated to protecting marine mammals in captivity and advocating for their immediate welfare.

“According to the park’s statement, she experienced feeding difficulties before dying suddenly despite 24-hour monitoring. Her cause of death remains unknown; a necropsy is planned.”

Third death since transfer

This marks the third beluga who has died after being part of a massive move of 30 whales and four dolphins from the now closed Marineland, which last year said it was running out of money and needed to remove the whales or they would be euthanized.

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The Spanish aquarium took in Jelly Bean and another beluga named Cleopatra in late August.

“Our hearts go out to the staff who cared for these belugas, formed deep bonds with them, and are now grieving their loss,” the group said.

Earlier, two Marineland belugas and a resident beluga at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium died within weeks of their move.

Belugas and dolphins move out

The Niagara Falls tourist attraction moved all 30 of its whales and four dolphins to five aquariums in Chicago, San Antonio, San Diego, Atlanta in the U.S. and Valencia in Spain as part of an international rescue effort.

Rain, a 20-year-old female beluga, died at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and before that, Peekachu, a 23-year-old female, also passed away.

The aquarium said Peekachu’s blood was tested before her death and she appeared to be dehydrated. She was given fluids as well as medication in the evening, but died suddenly.

When she arrived earlier this month from the shuttered theme park in Niagara Falls, aquarium officials said Peekachu appeared to be in good health and was eating and socializing with other whales.

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Animal Justice, a Toronto-based legal non-profit, said on its Instagram account Friday that, following the death of Peekachu, it “urged the (federal) government to pause exports, investigate her cause of death, and independently verify that the remaining whales were healthy enough to survive transport. Our calls were ignored.”

Marineland closed its doors in September 2024 and did not reopen for the 2025 or 2026 seasons.

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