Thirty beluga whales that have been stranded at a shuttered theme park in Canada are set to be relocated to aquariums in the United States and Spain, offering them a new lease of life. The whales have been kept at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, since its closure in 2024 and faced euthanasia if a move was not approved.
Transfer Approved by NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approved the transfer last week, subject to the whales passing veterinary checks. Teams from the receiving facilities are due to visit shortly to assess the animals and plan the move. A representative for the American aquarium consortium stated: "This rescue effort will take several weeks to mobilize and complete, and the comfort and safety of the whales remains of the utmost importance."
Beluga Whales: A Protected Species
Beluga whales are a protected species, typically 13 to 20 feet in length, and are commonly found in the Arctic Ocean. They are known as sociable and curious animals, sometimes called "canaries of the sea" due to their vocalizations. National Geographic notes that beluga whales live in pods and are "very vocal communicators," using clicks, whistles, and clangs, and can mimic other sounds.
Marineland's Financial Troubles and Whale Deaths
The park faced severe financial difficulties, leading to its closure. According to figures from The Canadian Press, 20 whales at the site have died since 2019. The remaining 30 belugas will be distributed among five aquariums: two to Spain's Oceanogràfic València, and the rest to SeaWorld in San Diego and San Antonio, Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium, and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium.
High-Quality Environments Promised
In a statement, the aquarium consortium added: "Once the belugas are cleared for travel by Canadian veterinarians, aquarium experts will accompany the animals to their new homes, where they will be met with diverse seafood to meet their nutritional needs, high-quality environments with guaranteed water quality and onsite medical care should they require it at any time."
Other Whale Rescue: Humpback 'Timmy'
In related news, a humpback whale named "Timmy" was rescued in March after becoming stranded off Germany's coast on Timmendorfer Beach in Lübeck Bay. The whale was lured onto a water-filled barge and taken to the North Sea via Denmark. Till Backhaus, environment minister for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, called the rescue "an example for Germany of what can be done." Karin Walter-Mommert, one of the entrepreneurs who financed the operation, said: "I can't even say how happy I am."
