A nine-year-old beluga named Cyprus, one of three males SeaWorld San Diego took in from the closed Marineland park in Canada, has died. The loss adds to a growing toll among the animals rescued from the facility, and wildlife experts are now looking into what happened.
Cyprus's Final Days at SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego shared the news on Facebook on October 18. Cyprus arrived on August 22, 2026, alongside two other male belugas, after Marineland shut down this summer amid serious financial troubles and criticism from animal rights activists over the care of its animals, particularly the belugas.
According to the park, Cyprus stopped eating two days before he died. An emergency exam showed his intestinal tract wasn't working normally, which pointed to a potentially life-threatening condition. Veterinarians worked through the night, but he did not survive. Until then, he had been doing well, adjusting to his surroundings and willingly interacting with his trainers, the animal care team, and the other two rescued belugas.
Xavier and Jasper, the other males, are reportedly in stable condition and still settling in. A full necropsy will be performed on Cyprus, and the findings will go to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
SeaWorld San Diego's statement read:
“We are saddened to share that Cyprus, a nine-year-old male beluga rescued from a dire situation in Canada that came to SeaWorld San Diego on August 22, has passed away unexpectedly.
Cyprus stopped eating two days ago which prompted our veterinarians and animal care team to conduct a thorough medical exam. An ultrasound showed that his intestinal tract did not appear to be functioning normally and could indicate a serious life-threatening condition. Veterinarians worked throughout the night, providing immediate medical attention.
Cyprus had been doing well since his arrival. He was eating consistently, acclimating to his new environment and interacting with his trainers and animal care team, along with the two other rescued belugas.
Like many species, belugas can mask discomfort or underlying concerns that are not immediately visible. A full necropsy will be conducted, and the cause of the passing will be shared with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Like our colleagues at the other AZA-accredited facilities that rescued these belugas, we understood each animal would be navigating a significant transition and that their complete health picture, including conditions that may have developed over time, could only become clearer through ongoing assessment and care.
The other rescued belugas in our care continue to be in stable health and remain under close monitoring as they continue to adjust to their surroundings. As we have indicated, this process will take a considerable amount of time. Our commitment to the health, well-being and care of these belugas, like every animal we rescue, continues.”
Other Marineland Animals Lost
Cyprus is not the first rescued animal to die after the move from Canada. Since early September, four belugas have died at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago: Caspian, a 27-year-old female; Peekachu, 23; Rain, 20; and Osiris, 26, all females. Shedd also lost Beethoven, a 34-year-old male, in September, though he had lived in its resident pod for decades and his necropsy pointed to old age, unrelated to the Marineland deaths.
In Spain, Oceanogràfic València lost a 19-year-old female beluga named Jelly Bean on September 18, along with Echo, a 30-year-old blind Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, who was also rescued from Marineland.
What Necropsies Revealed
Examinations of some of the deceased animals found health problems that predated their rescues, including chronic liver disease and chronic inflammatory disease in the gastrointestinal tract. Some stomachs contained non-edible material such as large porous rocks, sticks, bird feathers, and paint flecks or chips. Experts concluded the animals couldn't have swallowed these items at their new homes and linked the behavior to chronic boredom and abnormal behaviors in captivity at Marineland.
The Remaining Animals
In all, 30 beluga whales and four Black Sea bottlenose dolphins were rescued. Experts warned they were in fragile condition and might have undiscovered medical issues. Before the rescue, 14 captive whales and one dolphin had died over four years in Marineland's care.
The remaining 24 whales and three dolphins are receiving around-the-clock care at the Shedd Aquarium, SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld San Antonio, the Georgia Aquarium, the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, and Oceanogràfic València.
Disney Fanatic sends its condolences to the SeaWorld San Diego animal care team who worked with nine-year-old Cyprus.
