Two beluga whales rescued from the now-closed Marineland facility in Niagara Falls, Ontario, had chronic gastrointestinal disease before they were transferred to Chicago, according to preliminary necropsy findings released by Shedd Aquarium. The whales, Peekachu, 23, and Rain, 20, were among 30 belugas relocated from Marineland to several accredited aquariums in the United States and Spain this summer. Both were transferred to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago before dying weeks later. Veterinarians and outside specialists found significant chronic inflammatory disease affecting the gastrointestinal systems of both whales. The inflammation was described as significant in Peekachu and severe in Rain. Shedd Aquarium said the findings indicate that the disease had likely been developing for an extended period, potentially months or years, meaning it began before the whales arrived in Chicago. Officials said the underlying condition would have made the animals more vulnerable to additional health stresses. The necropsies also found foreign material in the whales’ stomachs. Peekachu had bird feathers, sticks and large porous rocks in her stomach, while small pieces of material that may have been paint were found in Rain’s stomach. Shedd said it does not believe those objects directly caused the whales’ deaths. The aquarium emphasized that the preliminary findings do not establish a single definitive cause of death. Shedd also said there is currently no evidence of a shared infectious disease or a common environmental factor connecting the deaths of the whales examined. Both rescued belugas had been screened for known communicable diseases before being transferred to Chicago. Additional testing for bacterial, viral and fungal infections is continuing. Another rescued Marineland beluga, Osiris, a 26-year-old female, also died at Shedd Aquarium earlier this week. Necropsy results for Osiris were not yet available when the latest findings were released. Two other rescued belugas, Secord and Caspian, remain among the whales receiving the closest medical monitoring. The Shedd findings also included an examination of Beethoven, a 34-year-old beluga that had lived at the aquarium for years. Unlike the rescued whales, Beethoven was found to have several health changes associated with aging, including changes affecting his cardiovascular system. Further analysis is continuing. The deaths have renewed attention on the difficult operation to relocate Marineland’s remaining whales. The Niagara Falls facility closed to the public in 2024 and had said it was running out of resources to care for the animals. A large-scale rescue effort eventually moved the remaining 30 belugas and four dolphins to facilities in the United States and Spain. Marineland has disputed suggestions that the necropsy findings establish neglect as the cause of the whales’ deaths. The facility said its veterinary and animal-care teams had cared for Peekachu for 23 years and Rain for 20 years before the animals were relocated. Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson’s office, meanwhile, said the findings about foreign material in the whales’ stomachs raised concerns about their health before relocation. The minister’s office described the situation as a matter requiring further investigation. Shedd Aquarium said its veterinary and animal-care teams continue to monitor the surviving rescued belugas around the clock. The aquarium is conducting additional examinations and laboratory testing to better understand the health histories of the animals and determine what factors contributed to the recent deaths. The preliminary findings provide evidence of significant pre-existing disease in Peekachu and Rain, but investigators have not yet established one definitive cause for their deaths. Further testing and analysis are expected to provide additional information.