Kharabali the beluga whale dies in captivity

RIP Kharabali

On December 12th, Mystic Aquarium announced the passing of Kharabali, a captive beluga whale who was part of a group of five beluga whales transported from Marineland park in Canada to the U.S. in 2021. Kharabali is the third whale in this group to have died since being transported, all of whom likely had underlying conditions prior to the move.

“WDC does not believe the medical care she received at Mystic was subpar,” said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, WDC-NA executive director, “but even the best medical care cannot justify holding these whales and dolphins captive for entertainment or research purposes.”

Currently, more than 3,500 whales, dolphins, and porpoises are held captive around the world. WDC worked in partnership with the Sea Life Trust to create the first open water sanctuary for formerly captive beluga whales which welcomed two belugas in 2019. In lieu of flowers, please consider asking your elected representative or senator to support the SWIMS Act, which would end the capture and breeding of belugas, orca, false killer whales, and pilot whales for public display.