NIAGARA FALLS – Marineland has announced the commencement of the second phase of its whale relocation plan, with seven more belugas set to move to an aquarium in the United States. This follows the successful transfer of six belugas just weeks ago to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and SeaWorld in San Antonio.
The female belugas being relocated on Monday include Xena, Gemini, Skyla, Meeka, Eve, Neva, and Calypso, all of whom will be going to SeaWorld's San Antonio location. Marineland emphasized that the health, safety, and well-being of the whales is its top priority throughout this complex journey.
An adviser to Marineland has described the relocation process as “unprecedented,” involving custom slings, a dedicated team of dozens of individuals, and ongoing international collaboration to ensure a smooth transition for the whales.
Marineland has been closed to the public since 2024 as it seeks to sell the park, which is located a short distance from the renowned Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The park has reported running out of funds and is unable to care for the whales adequately.
In the same vein, Marineland previously attempted to transfer its belugas and dolphins to an aquarium in China, but this plan was blocked by the federal fisheries minister in Canada. The situation escalated when Marineland threatened to euthanize all its belugas if it did not receive emergency funding.
Eventually, Marineland reached an agreement with a consortium of U.S. and Spanish aquariums, which led to a structured plan to relocate the whales. The first batch of belugas was successfully moved on July 20, creating significant interest and concern regarding the future of these marine mammals.
Prior to the recent relocations, Marineland housed 30 belugas and four dolphins, making it the largest group of captive belugas in the world, as well as Canada’s last remaining captive whales and dolphins. The ongoing relocation efforts are closely watched by animal welfare advocates and the general public alike as Marineland navigates these changes.
