It’s a race against time for 30 majestic beluga whales stranded at a shuttered Canadian theme park since 2024, and now, a dramatic rescue plan is finally in motion to bring them to new homes in the U.S. and Spain.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration just gave the green light for this emergency life-saving mission, pulling the whales from the closed-down Marineland park in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the park warned back in October that it would be forced to euthanize the whales if a transfer wasn’t approved soon.
Marineland shut its doors to the public two years ago, reportedly buckling under major financial issues and mounting concerns over animal care.
Tragically, data obtained by the Canadian press shows 20 whales have died at the park since 2019, making this rescue feel even more urgent.
A spokesperson for the American aquarium consortium, which is leading the effort, said the operation will take several weeks and that the whales’ comfort and safety are the top priority.
The plan splits the belugas between five accredited aquariums, with 28 heading to four U.S. locations: the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and two SeaWorlds in San Diego and San Antonio.
The remaining two whales are set to travel to Oceanogràfic València in Spain, according to the CBC.
Before any move, Canadian veterinarians must clear the whales for travel, and a team of dedicated care staff from the U.S. aquariums is arriving at Marineland to assess their health and prep for the journey.
The consortium promised the whales will be met with diverse seafood, top-quality environments, and onsite medical care at their new homes.
This breakthrough comes over eight months after the Canadian government denied Marineland’s request to send the 30 belugas to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, citing a 2019 law that bans using whales and dolphins in entertainment shows.
What do you think it takes to give these gentle giants a second chance at life?
