Foreign objects found in dead Marineland belugas, Chicago aquarium says

Preliminary findings rule out infectious disease or environmental factors connecting deaths of Peekachu and Rain

Published Sep 25, 2026  •  Last updated 22 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Rain, a 20-year-old female beluga whale who arrived to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago several weeks ago from Marineland, has died. Photo by Handout /Shedd Aquarium

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Preliminary necropsy results performed on Peekachu and Rain, the Marineland beluga whales who died in recent weeks after being rescued by a Chicago aquarium over the summer, have been released.

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The Shedd Aquarium said in an update Friday that foreign objects were found in Peekachu, who died on Aug. 25, and Rain, who passed away on Sept. 2.

The belugas also suffered from chronic inflammatory disease within their gastrointestinal systems.

Shedd veterinarians, who worked with outside animal pathologists and academic clinical specialists, are currently ruling out infectious disease or environmental factors in their deaths.

However, they are conducting additional testing for a broad range of fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens.

Objects found in stomach

During Peekachu’s examination, bird feathers, sticks and large, porous rocks were found in her stomach. Officials believe those foreign materials were there before her rescue.

Pathologists found small flecks of material that may be paint in Rain’s stomach, the aquarium said, but they didn’t come across any larger objects found in Peekachu.

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A rescued beluga whale arrives at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, following relocation from Marineland. Photo by Handout

“We do not believe that the foreign bodies found in Peekachu or Rain’s stomach were directly related to their passing,” the aquarium said in the update.

“That said, these findings are still relevant, as we have continued to stress the importance of regular nutrition for belugas and investigate the possible presence of gastrointestinal illness in the rescues.”

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Suffering from gastrointestinal disease

Tissue and organ samples taken from the whales revealed chronic gastrointestinal disease, adding the inflammation was significant in Peekachu and severe in Rain.

Aquarium officials said an analysis of the affected tissue indicated that the disease had likely been present for an extended period of time.

“These changes develop over time, potentially months or years, indicating that the disease began before the whales arrived at Shedd and compromised their health rendering them more vulnerable and sensitive,” the aquarium said.

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However, they cautioned that animals with the chronic disease may continue feeding and appear fine while the inflammation continues and the body compensates for its effects.

Marine experts at the aquarium also said the necropsies may not identify every factor that could have influenced each beluga’s decline, warning that the whales’ health can change quickly when the body is no longer able to compensate.

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No definitive cause of death

“These initial findings do not always lead to one definitive cause of death,” the aquarium said. “However, the evidence can still provide meaningful insight into an animal’s health, identify conditions that may have contributed to a loss, and inform the care of other animals.”

Animal Justice, a Toronto-based legal non-profit, called the preliminary findings deeply troubling.

“The Shedd’s necropsy findings of the dead belugas confirm what everybody should have known — that these whales were suffering from poor health after years of neglect at Marineland,” Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, said in a statement Friday.

“It’s shocking to learn that they apparently ingested objects like rocks, paint chips, and feathers.”

Shedd officials said authorities in Ontario repeatedly documented environmental concerns at the shuttered Marineland theme park, including orders to repair marine mammal life-support systems and meet required water-quality guidelines.

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