Plan to Relocate Beluga Whales from Closed Canadian Park

By July 16, 2026, federal officials approved an emergency import to relocate twenty-eight beluga whales from a closed Canadian theme park to aquariums across the United States. This is part of an international rescue effort.

Marineland, which closed to the public in 2024, still possesses the whales but claims insufficient resources to care for them. About a year after shutting down, the park indicated it might have to euthanize the animals without a relocation plan or more funding.

The belugas are set to move from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to several accredited aquariums, including SeaWorld San Antonio and San Diego, the Georgia Aquarium, and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Two additional whales will head to Oceanografic Valencia, an aquarium in Spain, once necessary permits from the Spanish government are granted.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the relocation order in July to ensure the belugas receive medical treatment and care unavailable in Canada. According to them, no other facilities in Canada can provide these whales with needed husbandry or medical care.

The rescue effort will require several weeks to organize and execute. The focus will be on the comfort and safety of the whales. Marineland has faced criticism for its animal care practices. Since 2019, twenty whales have died there, according to The Canadian Press news agency. In 2019, Canada enacted a law ending the captivity of whales and dolphins.

In January, Canada’s Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson approved a conditional proposal to relocate the whales to the U.S. Final export authorization from the Canadian government awaits a health check for each whale, as per a statement dated July 8.