Canada's last captive dolphins have officially left Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, for a new home at Oceanogràfic Valencia, Spain. This relocation marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to retire marine mammals from captivity in Canada. On Wednesday morning, trainers dedicated several hours to transferring four dolphins—Echo, Lida, Marina, and Tsunami—and two belugas, Cleopatra and Jelly Bean, into transport tanks. These animals then made their way to Toronto Pearson International Airport for their flight to Spain.
Andrew Burns, an adviser for Marineland, reported that the loading process for both the dolphins and belugas went smoothly, with no injuries occurring during the transfer. Notably, the belugas are the last female belugas in captivity in Canada, highlighting the poignant significance of their move.
However, the relocation effort has been overshadowed by the tragic news of Peekachu, a 23-year-old beluga who was recently transported to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Peekachu passed away suddenly just two weeks after her arrival, following indications of dehydration during routine assessments. Shedd's spokesperson, Johnny Ford, conveyed the team's grief over her unexpected death, noting that they understood each rescued whale would arrive with unique health requirements that would evolve through continuous care.
The Shedd Aquarium plans to perform a necropsy to gain insights into Peekachu's sudden demise. Ford emphasized that, despite the loss, they remained hopeful for the health of the other belugas received from Marineland, which are currently under close monitoring. To date, Shedd has taken in eight belugas as part of this major relocation effort.
Marineland expressed its deep sadness regarding Peekachu's death and conveyed gratitude toward Shedd Aquarium for their collaborative effort in relocating Marineland's belugas. The park reassured that it has full confidence in the care provided by a team of experienced and dedicated experts at Shedd.
As of now, the six remaining belugas at Marineland are also slated to be transferred to facilities in the United States. This relocation effort has been significant as Marineland continues the largest collective move of captive whales and dolphins undertaken in recent times, involving 30 belugas and four dolphins that commenced in mid-July. The park has stated that it is facing financial difficulties, leading to its decision to sell the property and relocate its animals.
Initially, Marineland had planned to sell all of its belugas and dolphins to an aquarium in China, but this move was blocked by the Canadian federal government, which deemed it a violation of the 2019 federal law prohibiting whale and dolphin captivity, as well as breeding and performance spectacles. Following this intervention, Marineland threatened to euthanize its belugas unless the government provided emergency funding, an action that was met with widespread concern.
Ultimately, the park sought assistance from a consortium of American and Spanish aquariums, leading to the relocation of belugas to SeaWorld locations in San Diego and San Antonio, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, in addition to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. With these transitions, a significant chapter in marine mammal care is drawing to a close as Canada prepares to shift away from keeping whales and dolphins in captivity.
