Six beluga whales have been successfully transported from the closed Marineland of Canada park in Niagara Falls to new homes at aquariums in the United States. The relocation marks the first phase of an unprecedented international effort to rehome a large pod of 30 belugas that had been living at the shuttered facility.
Relocation to Chicago and San Antonio
The initial wave of the rescue mission saw the whales moved via specialized, temperature-controlled containers on trucks and planes. Four of the whales—Sierra, Acadia, Osiris, and Lillooet—arrived at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Two additional belugas, Bertie Botts and Frankie, were transported to SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas. The whales, which can weigh up to 1,600kg each, were hoisted out of their pools in huge slings attached to a crane during the extraction process.
The transport process was supervised by marine mammal veterinarians and animal care specialists who accompanied the pods throughout the entire journey. The four whales sent to Chicago were selected specifically because they were a pre-existing sub-pod with strong social bonds, a factor considered critical for their successful transition to a new environment.
Care Teams Monitor Acclimatization
Staff at the receiving facilities have initiated round-the-clock monitoring to assess the health and social behavior of the rescued animals. Karisa Tang, the lead veterinarian at Shedd Aquarium, emphasized the focus on the immediate needs of the new arrivals. "Now that they are here, the full attention of our care and veterinary teams is on getting to know these whales and providing whatever supplemental support, care, treatment, nutrition and attention we can provide to help them acclimatise to their new environment," she said.
Charlie Jacobsma, director of animal behavior and training at the Shedd Aquarium, noted that the whales are not yet on public display. He stated that the team is looking for specific indicators of well-being as the animals adjust to their new caretakers and habitats. "As with any of our animals, the best indicator of wellbeing is individual and social behaviour," Jacobsma said. "We are watching closely for the rescued belugas to eat a full diet, socialise with one another and investigate the habitat, which are encouraging signs of their progress. We are cautiously optimistic as we start to see some of those initial indicators, and our dedicated team will continue to monitor throughout this process to acclimatise the belugas to their new home, caretakers and pod."
The Future of Marineland’s Remaining Pods
The relocation follows years of controversy surrounding the Marineland facility, which ceased operations following the deaths of owners John and Marie Holer in 2024. After the park closed, staff continued to care for the mammals, though the animals faced the threat of euthanasia if a suitable home could not be found in time. Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson confirmed the start of the mission, stating: "The first wave of the rescue mission at Marineland is underway."
Earlier this year, several aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums were asked to help develop a rescue plan for the animals. Authorities in Canada finalized deals with counterparts in the United States and Spain last month to facilitate the transfers. While the first six whales have successfully reached their new homes, authorities are currently working on further transfers. Future plans include moving additional whales to the Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld San Diego in the United States, as well as Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.
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