US and Spanish Aquariums Rescue 30 Belugas from Marineland Canada

A consortium of accredited aquariums began relocating 30 beluga whales from the shuttered Marineland Canada facility in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on July 20, 2026. The operation follows the facility's 2024 closure amid animal abuse allegations and financial instability, which left the animals facing potential euthanasia. The first wave of the rescue involved transporting six whales via Boeing aircraft from Toronto Pearson Airport; four females arrived at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while two males, Bertie Botts and Frankie, were delivered to SeaWorld San Antonio.

The relocation follows a rejected attempt by Marineland Canada to export the animals to China. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson blocked that sale, stating the move to the U.S. and Spanish consortium better aligned with 2019 federal laws banning whale and dolphin captivity. The remaining 24 whales will be moved over the following months to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, SeaWorld San Diego, and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain. This international effort was endorsed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and authorized via an emergency permit from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The relocation is also a prerequisite for the final sale of Marineland Canada's 1,000-acre property. Veterinary teams at the receiving institutions are now focused on the acclimation and health assessments of the whales to ensure they thrive in their new environments.