SerpApi.Org
A total of 30 beluga whales have been approved for transfer to aquariums in the U.S. and Spain
NEED TO KNOW
- Six beluga whales from the shuttered Marineland in Ontario, Canada, began their transfer to approved U.S. aquariums on Monday, July 20
- The whales are reportedly being transported in small groups by plane with careful monitoring to ensure their safety and comfort
- Marineland closed in 2024 and could no longer care for the belugas and said the animals might have to be euthanized, which prompted an international rescue effort
A group of 30 beluga whales from Marineland, a shuttered Canadian marine park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, is beginning to make its way to the U.S.
Six of the belugas began the transfer process on Monday, July 20, shortly after U.S. officials approved an international rescue effort to relocate the animals from Marineland, according to CBC, CTV News and the Toronto Star.
Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson confirmed the news to the local Canadian outlets in a statement, saying, “the first wave of the rescue mission at Marineland is underway.”
“The rescue operation is being led by a consortium of accredited aquariums, and they will be sharing details as it progresses,” she added.
Four of the beluga whales removed from the park and sent to a facility in the U.S. — identified as Sierra, Acadia, Osiris and Lillooet — will be transported to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, according to CTV News. The other two beluga whales — identified as Bertie Botts and Frankie — are going to SeaWorld in San Antonio, per the outlet.
Andrew Burns, Marineland’s external legal counsel, told CTV News that the marine mammals will be transported on a plane, with the flight expected to last an hour at most. The animals will be driven to their final destinations after landing. He told the outlet that the whales are traveling in small groups for the transfers so “there can be more focus on a smaller number of whales to ensure that they get maximum care and attention.”
Photos obtained by the outlet show the beluga whales being lifted in a transport bag out of the water by a tractor.
Burns told CTV News that the beluga whales were placed into a large transport container lined with “plush soft material” and partially filled with water. He added that they will ensure the animals are comfortable throughout their transportation.
The beluga whales will stay in the transport containers for the flight, which will take off at a “very careful rate” and fly at a certain altitude to ensure the creatures’ safety, according to Burns. He said they will be “monitored and taken care of carefully the entire time.”
A total of 28 beluga whales will be transported to four marine parks in the U.S., including Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and SeaWorld locations in San Antonio and San Diego. The remaining two beluga whales at Marineland will be transported to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.
The transfer of the beluga whales comes after Marineland closed to the public in 2024. The beluga whales faced the threat of euthanasia after the park said that it could no longer afford to care for them following its closure.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The threat of euthanasia led to an international rescue effort to find new homes for the belugas. U.S. officials, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and the six parks involved in the relocation endorsed a plan to transport the beluga whales to the different facilities. Canadian veterinarians will examine all of the belugas before their transfer to ensure that they are healthy enough to make the trip.
Marineland said in a statement to CTV News that the start of the transfer of the beluga whales to their new homes “marks a significant milestone” and that it was “deeply grateful” to everyone who made the move possible.
Read the original article on People
