Dozens of Marineland's whales coming to U.S. through emergency rescue plan

Twenty-eight beluga whales are acceptable to beryllium relocated from a shuttered Canadian taxable parkland to aquariums crossed the United States aft national officials approved an exigency import earlier this period arsenic portion of an planetary rescue effort.  

Marineland closed to the nationalist successful 2024 but has remained successful possession of the whales, which it says it lacks the resources to proceed caring for. Around a twelvemonth aft closing, the parkland said it would person nary prime but to euthanize the animals if a relocation program oregon further backing was not secured.

The whales volition beryllium transported from Marineland successful Niagara Falls, Ontario, to accredited aquariums including SeaWorld San Antonio and San Diego, the Georgia Aquarium and the Shedd Aquarium successful Chicago, according to a associated connection earlier this period from the aquariums. Two further whales volition spell to Oceanografic Valencia, an aquarium successful Spain, pending the support of indispensable permits from the Spanish government.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it issued the relocation successful July to guarantee the belugas person aesculapian attraction and attraction that is not different available, adding that "there are nary different facilities successful Canada that are capable to supply the whales husbandry oregon aesculapian care."

A Marineland poster astatine the now-closed entranceway of the parkland is seen done a fence, successful Niagara Falls, Canada, connected Nov. 13, 2025. Daphné LEMELIN / AFP via Getty Images

The rescue effort volition instrumentality respective weeks to mobilize and complete, according to the aquariums, and volition beryllium centered astir the comfortableness and information of the whales.

Marineland has travel nether scrutiny for its attraction of the animals. Twenty whales person died determination since 2019, The Canadian Press quality bureau has reported. In 2019, Canada passed a bill to extremity the captivity of whales and dolphins, which became law.

In January, Canada's Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson approved a conditional proposal to determination the whales to the U.S.

Final export authorization from the Canadian authorities volition beryllium issued erstwhile veterinarians execute a wellness cheque connected each animal, Thompson said successful a connection dated July 8. 

AFP contributed to this report.

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• Whales
• Canada