Almost 30 beluga whales that have been stuck in a defunct Canadian theme park since 2024 are finally set to be moved to aquariums in the United States and Spain, thanks to an urgent rescue initiative.
Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration approved a plan to relocate the whales from the now-closed Marineland Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Back in October, the park warned that if the whales didn’t get the green light for relocation, immediate euthanasia would be the only option.
Marineland Park shut down to visitors two years ago due to severe financial issues, which made it impossible to properly care for its animals.
Reports indicate that 20 whales have died at the park since 2019.
“Although the rescue will take a few weeks to organize and finalize, ensuring the whales’ comfort and safety is our top priority,” a spokesperson from the American Aquarium Consortium said.
The plan currently involves relocating 28 whales to four accredited aquariums in the U.S.: the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and SeaWorld in both San Diego and San Antonio. The remaining two will head to Oceanográfic Valencia in Spain.
Before the transfer, each whale must be examined by a Canadian veterinarian, and care teams from the U.S. aquariums will soon be on-site at Marineland to check on their health and prep for the move.
“After a Canadian vet clears the belugas for travel, our aquarium specialists will accompany them to their new habitats, ensuring they get nutritious seafood and quality care throughout the journey,” the organization stated.
This announcement comes over eight months after the Canadian government denied Marineland’s request to send the whales to a facility in China.
The decision, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Joanne Thompson, aligns with legislation passed in 2019 that bans using whales or dolphins for entertainment or keeping them in captivity for such purposes.
