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The first group of Marineland beluga whales that have been at the permanently closed theme park and zoo in Niagara Falls, Ont., have begun their journey to their new homes in the U.S.
Six belugas are being moved in a process that began Monday. The transport plan could see up to 30 of the remaining whales at the former park rehomed to U.S. aquariums over the next few weeks.
A statement from the office of Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson confirmed the start of the relocation efforts.
“The first wave of the rescue mission at Marineland is underway,” it said. “The rescue operation is being led by a consortium of accredited aquariums, and they will be sharing details as it progresses.”
Thompson also thanked veterinarians at the site of the relocation efforts and “all organizations leading the work to ensure they are transported safely.”
Belugas can grow up to a length of 4.5 metres or more and weigh as much as 1,900 kilograms, so the operation was a delicate one involving special hoists, cranes, several transport trucks and more than two dozen workers.
Years after Marineland closed to the public, the aquarium has started the process of relocating some beluga whales to facilities in the U.S. and Spain.
Earlier Monday, CBC News also contacted Marineland, but a spokesperson said at the time that they were “unable to confirm any details regarding the move at this time.”
Johnny Ford, spokesperson for the collective of U.S. aquariums involved in the rescue, confirmed in an email that the whales would be leaving on one plane. And that four of the belugas — Sierra, Acadia, Osiris and Lillooet — are destined to arrive at the Chicago facility, while Bertie Botts and Frankie are set to go to SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas.
The convoy of transport trucks were seen travelling from Niagara Falls to Toronto Pearson airport on Monday evening.
The emergency transfer of six beluga whales from Marineland in Niagara Falls to aquariums in the U.S. is now underway.
On Monday afternoon, a CBC reporter observed four Paddock Transport International trucks, two DeSantis Crane Service cranes and two vehicles with “escort vehicle” badges on them entering the Marineland property.
Niagara Regional Police Service confirmed in an email that the service is “assisting with traffic control in support of the transportation.”
A CBC drone also captured images of workers in the Marineland waters, surrounded by some of the mammals as one was being lifted out with a special hoist.
Moving whales comes after long process
The whales have been living under the threat of euthanasia since last fall, when Marineland’s request to export them to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China was denied by the federal government.
The theme park and zoo in Niagara Falls was closed to the public in 2024, following the deaths of owners John Holer and Marie Holer. Since its closure, staff have continued to care for the remaining animals, but there were concerns the park was running out of funding to properly care for the whales.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) last month endorsed a plan that would see all 30 remaining whales split up and sent to either Oceanogràfic València in Spain or one of four U.S. locations: Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and two SeaWorld facilities, in San Diego, Calif., and San Antonio, Texas.
However, still needed were medical exams of each animal by Canadian veterinarians to ensure their health for travel.
Destined for accredited facilities
Earlier this month, the collective of Associated of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited aquariums involved in the rehoming operation confirmed in a statement that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the U.S. “authorized an emergency rescue for several whales at Marineland,” paving the way for the whales to cross the border.
The statement said that once the whales are approved for travel, “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.”
Also required was final signoff from the Canadian government by way of export permits. According to the Fisheries Act, these permits can be given if it’s in the best interest of the whales to leave the country.
