Two years ago, Marineland of Canada — a theme park in Niagara Falls known for training beluga whales, dolphins, and other animals to perform acrobatic shows — closed due to financial difficulties and mounting concerns about animal welfare. Investigations by journalists, whistleblower accounts, and government inspections revealed that the park had long been plagued by neglect and suffering among its animals. Since 2019, 19 beluga whales and one killer whale had died at Marineland. With the closure, a key question arose: what would happen to the remaining animals, which included 30 beluga whales and four dolphins? Animal welfare groups were concerned about transferring them to similar facilities or traditional aquariums, which they argued would continue to confine these highly social and intelligent animals in inadequate conditions. Instead, they advocated for the belugas to be moved to a proposed 110-acre coastal sanctuary in Nova Scotia, a place designed to provide a more natural and expansive environment. However, this plan did not come to fruition. Instead, the four dolphins and two belugas were sent to an aquarium in Spain, while the remaining belugas were distributed to two SeaWorld parks and two major U.S. aquariums: the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The move raised concerns, especially after three belugas at Shedd — Peekachu, Rain, and Beethoven — died within eight days of late August to early September. The cause of death remains unknown, pending necropsy results. The deaths have sparked renewed scrutiny of the broader issue of keeping wild animals in captivity, a practice that has long been a point of contention. Shedd Aquarium, one of the oldest and most respected institutions in the U.S., has not been without controversy. In the 1990s, it acquired belugas from the wild, and two of them died shortly after from cardiovascular collapse. While Shedd has not directly sourced belugas from the wild since then, it has recorded 15 births in captivity. Critics, including scientists and animal advocates, argue that captivity inherently limits the natural behaviors of these animals, leading to chronic stress and boredom. Neuroscientist Lori Marino, president of the Whale Sanctuary Project, argues that belugas in captivity — whether at places like Shedd or Marineland — are confined to small, artificial environments that prevent them from engaging in natural activities like hunting, migrating, and forming complex social bonds. She describes the conditions as “torture” for highly intelligent animals. While aquariums often claim they provide enriched, dynamic environments that promote animal well-being, critics point to repetitive, stress-related behaviors — known as zoochosis — as evidence of the harm of captivity. Despite efforts by some zoos and aquariums to reframe their role as conservation advocates, the practice of keeping wild animals in captivity remains controversial. While these institutions often highlight their contributions to conservation through funding and public education, critics argue that their primary focus is entertainment. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which accredits many of these facilities, notes that 80% of animals in its member institutions are taken from the wild. This has led to questions about the true impact of these institutions on wildlife conservation and the ethical implications of keeping wild animals in captivity for public display.