In recent news, Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut has settled a federal investigation over alleged animal care and water quality violations by paying a $12,200 fine. This settlement comes after the deaths of three beluga whales at the aquarium, which occurred after the whales were brought in from Canada. The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed the settlement on Aug. 13, and the aquarium agreed to the conditions without admitting or denying the accusations. The aquarium spokesperson mentioned that there was disagreement regarding whether violations had occurred, stating that the alleged violations did not play a role in the deaths of the three whales.
The three beluga whales were among five that were brought to Mystic Aquarium in 2021 from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, following a lengthy legal battle to obtain permits. One of the whales, a 5-year-old male named Havok, died in August 2021 from an intestinal disease. Two female whales, Havana and Kharabali, died in 2022 and 2023, respectively, from storage disease. The aquarium officials stated that all three whales had genetic health problems that were not curable and not detectable before their arrival in Mystic.
The Department of Agriculture cited violations related to the care of Havok, including a failure to call for veterinarian care in the last hours of his life despite signs of distress. Havok, who had vision problems, was also injured twice in June 2021, according to federal investigators. The agency alleged that the beluga whales’ pools showed extremely high levels of coliform bacteria in late 2021, which may have contributed to Havana’s medical conditions. The aquarium addressed the bacteria issue promptly, attributing it to equipment malfunction that was fixed.
Mystic Aquarium decided to settle the case to avoid costly litigation and to focus on their core mission of caring for the animals and promoting marine life conservation. Several animal advocacy groups have been monitoring the aquarium’s care of the whales, with some expressing concerns about the federal investigation’s findings. Naomi Rose, a senior scientist for marine mammal biology at the Animal Welfare Institute, stated that Mystic Aquarium had a good reputation for animal care before the whale deaths, but the investigation revealed significant problems that need addressing.
Beluga whales are known for their white hue and are smaller whales, typically measuring between 11 to 15 feet long and weighing up to 2,500 pounds. Their lifespan is around 35 to 50 years in the wild, with some individuals living up to 80 years. Mystic Aquarium currently houses five belugas in pools containing a total of 750,000 gallons of water. While Mystic Aquarium has settled the federal investigation, concerns remain about the animal care practices and water quality at the facility, prompting calls for improved regulations and oversight to prevent future incidents.
