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Canadian belugas faced ‘imminent risk’ of death before emergency flight to Chicago, marine park lawyer says

First publishedJul 23, 14:22 UTC
Last updatedJul 23, 23:20 UTC · 4m ago
11 outletChicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times6Canadian belugas faced ‘imminent risk’ of death before emergency flight to Chicago, marine park lawyer saysOpen ↗
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<p>The 30 beluga whales at Marineland Canada — including four now at Shedd Aquarium — were at “imminent risk” of being euthanized, a longtime advisor and lawyer for the shuttered aquatic park told the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday.</p><p>“The bottom line is we have expended, since the beginning of COVID, all of our available reserves of funds to keep these animals alive and rehoused,” said Andrew Burns, speaking from Toronto, Canada.</p><p>Burns said no more whales are scheduled to leave Marineland this week, but that the goal is to remove all of them by Aug. 31.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-950000" name="image-950000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/820a436/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d0aa138/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a9ab6f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="7T3A0037.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a9ab6f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f555059/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a9ab6f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The belugas swim at Marineland Canada before a rescue operation began.

Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓

<p>The 30 beluga whales at Marineland Canada — including four now at Shedd Aquarium — were at “imminent risk” of being euthanized, a longtime advisor and lawyer for the shuttered aquatic park told the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday.</p><p>“The bottom line is we have expended, since the beginning of COVID, all of our available reserves of funds to keep these animals alive and rehoused,” said Andrew Burns, speaking from Toronto, Canada.</p><p>Burns said no more whales are scheduled to leave Marineland this week, but that the goal is to remove all of them by Aug. 31.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-950000" name="image-950000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/820a436/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d0aa138/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a9ab6f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="7T3A0037.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a9ab6f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f555059/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a9ab6f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The belugas swim at Marineland Canada before a rescue operation began. The aquatic park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been closed to the public since 2024. Marineland told the Canadian government that the park had two options for the whales: relocation or euthanasia.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Courtesy of Georgia Aquarium </p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2026/07/21/4-beluga-whales-arrive-at-shedd-aquarium" >4 beluga whales arrive at Shedd Aquarium</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2026/07/22/belugas-chicago-shedd-aquarium-marineland-canada-rescue" >Rescued belugas have arrived in Chicago.

Read the full report at Chicago Sun-Times ↗

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<p>The 30 beluga whales at Marineland Canada — including four now at Shedd Aquarium — were at “imminent risk” of being euthanized, a longtime advisor and lawyer for the shuttered aquatic park told the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday.</p><p>“The bottom line is we have expended, since the beginning of COVID, all of our available reserves of funds to keep these animals alive and rehoused,” said Andrew Burns, speaking from Toronto, Canada.</p><p>Burns said no more whales are scheduled to leave Marineland this week, but that the goal is to remove all of them by Aug. 31.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-950000" name="image-950000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/820a436/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d0aa138/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a9ab6f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="7T3A0037.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a9ab6f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f555059/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a9ab6f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5984x3358+0+315/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc6%2F39%2F502bf9ee4ac5ba163d428a0ba10c%2F7t3a0037.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The belugas swim at Marineland Canada before a rescue operation began.
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1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
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4m ago.
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    Scouting report

    Canadian belugas faced ‘imminent risk’ of death before emergency flight to Chicago, marine park lawyer says

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    Chicago Sun-Times
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organizationAndrew BurnsorganizationCanadianorganizationChicagoorganizationChicago Sun-Times WednesdayorganizationCOVID-organizationMarineland CanadaorganizationShedd AquariumorganizationToronto
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