Tragedy as third Marineland beluga dies after move to Spain

A 19-year-old beluga whale has died at Valencia’s Oceanogràfic just weeks after being transported from Canada as part of a huge international relocation of animals from the now-shuttered Marineland park.

Jelly Bean died suddenly on Friday September 18, with the Spanish aquarium confirming that the cause of death is not yet known. The news comes after another beluga transferred from Marineland, Cleopatra, also died at Oceanogràfic late last month.

Jelly Bean had been under close observation

Jelly Bean arrived in Valencia on August 27 alongside Cleopatra and four bottlenose dolphins after a complex journey from Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The six animals travelled from Marineland to Toronto before making the flight to Spain. The transfer formed part of an unprecedented operation to find new homes for the marine mammals after Marineland closed to the public in 2024.

According to Oceanogràfic, Jelly Bean had experienced difficulties feeding during the days before her death. Veterinary staff increased their monitoring and said she subsequently showed signs of improvement and remained responsive to her caregivers.

Despite the intensive care, she died suddenly and unexpectedly.

A necropsy will now be carried out by Oceanogràfic veterinarians together with pathology specialists from CEU Cardenal Herrera University in Valencia in an attempt to establish what happened.

The aquarium said it is not currently possible to determine the cause of death.

Another beluga died weeks earlier

Jelly Bean’s death is the third reported death among belugas involved in the wider relocation from Marineland.

Rain and Peekachu, two other Marineland belugas, died after being transferred to new facilities in the United States. Beethoven, a resident beluga at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, also died following the arrival of Marineland animals, with an investigation there continuing.

The deaths have brought renewed attention to the enormous logistical and veterinary challenge involved in moving the animals.

Oceanogràfic had prepared extensively for the arrival, with veterinary and animal-care specialists assessing the whales before the journey and providing continuous supervision after they reached Valencia.

The centre is currently home to other belugas, including animals rescued from Ukraine.

The huge operation behind the move

Marineland’s remaining whales and dolphins have been distributed between five facilities in the United States and Spain.

The park had housed 30 belugas, making it home to the world’s largest captive collection of the species. Its closure created a complex problem over what would happen to the animals, particularly after plans to send them to China were rejected by Canada’s fisheries minister.

The eventual relocation involved facilities including Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium, SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego and Oceanogràfic.

The transfer to Valencia was particularly significant because Oceanogràfic became the only European aquarium involved in the operation.

For Jelly Bean, however, the new chapter in Spain lasted only around three weeks.

Her death leaves veterinary teams facing the difficult task of determining whether an underlying condition, the stresses surrounding the move or another factor contributed to her sudden passing.

For now, Oceanogràfic says the priority remains establishing what happened while continuing to care for Cleopatra and the other animals at the Valencia facility.