Shedd Aquarium's Beluga Whale Puiji Died

We don't know if this is Puji, but it is one of the Shedd's beluga whales. Photo by Flickr user Alton Parker Photography

One of the Shedd Aquarium's original beluga whales, Puiji, died last night at the age of 25. Her health had been declining in recent months, but she died suddenly Wednesday evening. The typical lifespan for a beluga is 25 to 30 years. Puiji had been at the Shedd since 1989 when the oceanarium opened. She is the mother of two other belugas at the Shedd: Bella, 5, and Nunavik, 2.