The relocation of six beluga whales from Marineland of Canada to U.S. aquariums marked the first phase of an international rescue operation in 2026, following the closure of the Niagara Falls marine park in 2024.
First Phase of International Relocation
The effort involved four whales—Sierra, Acadia, Osiris, and Lillooet—traveling to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while Bertie Botts and Frankie arrived at SeaWorld San Antonio, Texas. This stage followed months of planning and veterinary checks, with officials emphasizing the complexity of moving Arctic marine mammals across borders.
Marineland of Canada, which closed in 2024, housed a pod of 30 belugas that needed re-homing after the facility could no longer provide long-term care. The marine park faced financial difficulties and had stopped operating as a traditional amusement park by 2024. Canadian officials blocked a proposal to export the whales to a Chinese marine park over animal welfare concerns, leading to months of negotiations over their future.
SeaWorld’s Role and AZA Partnerships
SeaWorld described the relocation as a herculean effort
and credited collaboration with AZA-accredited aquariums. The organization stated its mission was rescuing these belugas and providing them a home and exceptional care,
according to TPR. The statement underscored the role of accredited facilities in ensuring the whales’ long-term welfare, a key criterion in the rescue plan.
The relocation followed an emergency authorization from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which determined that relocating the whales to U.S. aquariums was in their best interest. SeaWorld confirmed additional relocations would follow as veterinarians evaluate the remaining 24 belugas at Marineland.
Challenges and Negotiations
Canadian officials later blocked a proposal to export the whales to a marine park in China over animal welfare concerns, leading to months of negotiations over the animals’ future. Marineland warned federal officials it lacked the financial resources to continue caring for the whales and said euthanasia could become a possibility without government assistance or approval to relocate the animals, according to documents first reported by TPR. Animal welfare groups criticized the threat while urging governments to move the whales as quickly as possible.
Beluga whales are Arctic marine mammals known for their distinctive white coloring, rounded foreheads, and highly social behavior. They are among the most vocal whale species and are capable of learning complex sounds and behaviors while under human care.
