Dozens of Marineland's Whales Coming to U.S. Through Emergency Rescue Plan

An emergency rescue plan will see 28 beluga whales relocated from Marineland, a now-shuttered Canadian theme park, to aquariums in the United States and Spain. The move comes after Marineland, located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, closed its doors to the public in 2024 but continued to house the whales.

Park officials stated they lacked the resources to continue caring for the animals and had previously warned of the possibility of euthanizing them if a relocation or funding solution was not found. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration approved the international rescue effort earlier this month, citing the need to ensure the belugas receive medical treatment and care not available in Canada. "There are no other facilities in Canada that are able to provide the whales husbandry or medical care," the agency said.

The whales will be transported to accredited aquariums including SeaWorld San Antonio and San Diego, the Georgia Aquarium, and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Two additional whales are slated to go to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain, pending Spanish government approval. The entire relocation process is expected to take several weeks, with a focus on the whales' comfort and safety. Marineland has faced scrutiny over its animal welfare practices, with reports indicating that 20 whales have died at the park since 2019.

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There are no other facilities in Canada that are able to provide the whales husbandry or medical care.