Beluga whales rescued from the shuttered Marineland park are being transferred to a network of accredited aquariums in the United States and Spain, marking one of the most extensive marine mammal rescue operations in recent history.
Twenty‑eight belugas will be relocated to four U.S. facilities and two to a Spanish institution. Thirteen will join SeaWorld San Antonio, three will move to SeaWorld San Diego, ten will be housed at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and a pair will travel to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.
The Georgia Aquarium confirmed that government authorization has been secured to move the whales, adding that the effort represents a long‑term commitment to the animals’ health and future well‑being.
SeaWorld described the operation as a complex international rescue involving multiple governments, veterinary teams, animal‑care specialists, and accredited marine‑life facilities. Dedicated care teams will assess each whale’s health before preparing them for transport.
Marineland, which operated from 1961 until its closure in 2024, warned that without federal approval or financial support it might have been forced to euthanize the belugas and four dolphins.
In January, the federal fisheries minister met with Marineland officials, providing conditional approval for export permits and indicating that final permits would be issued once required information was received.
The park expressed gratitude to the minister and the Canadian government for prioritizing the lives of the marine mammals, noting the long‑standing controversy surrounding its animal‑care practices.
No further information has been released regarding the fate of the four dolphins that remain at the former park.
