Beluga whales arrive at SeaWorld San Diego from shuttered Marineland

Three beluga whales—males named Cyprus, Jasper, and Xavier—have arrived at SeaWorld San Diego following a 2,500-mile journey from the shuttered Marineland of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The whales were transported via truck and a Qatar Airways cargo aircraft, utilizing specialized padded stretchers and temperature-controlled containers to ensure their safety during the international transit.

The relocation is part of an emergency multinational effort to find new homes for approximately 30 captive whales stranded at the closed park. Marineland, which ceased public operations in 2024, stated it can no longer afford the costs of animal care and had previously suggested the possibility of euthanasia if emergency funding or alternative arrangements were not secured.

Following the arrival in San Diego, eight belugas and four dolphins remain at the Niagara Falls facility. These remaining animals are scheduled to be shipped abroad by the end of the month as part of a deal with a consortium of American and Spanish aquariums. Future transfers include shipments to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.