30 Beluga Whales Relocated from Ontario's Marineland to US and Spain

Thirty beluga whales that had been stranded at the closed Marineland theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, are being moved to accredited aquariums after a rescue plan approved by Canadian and U.S. authorities. The first wave, launched on July 20, transferred six whales to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and SeaWorld in San Antonio using cranes, hoists and specialized transport trucks.

The broader plan calls for all remaining whales to be rehomed at facilities including the Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, SeaWorld locations in the United States, and Oceanogràfic Valencia in Spain, pending veterinary clearance and export permits. Earlier attempts to send the whales to China were rejected over care concerns, and the animals faced possible euthanasia before the rescue was authorized. Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson and U.S. NOAA officials highlighted the need for medical checks, monitored water conditions and on‑site veterinary support at the new homes.