As Canada’s captive belugas arrive in the US, questions linger about their future
Thirteen beluga whales, part of a pod of about 30 that were left languishing in a shuttered Canadian theme park, arrived in the U.S. The first transfer of six whales happened on July 21, and another seven were shipped out on August 3. These whales are part of the emergency transfers from Canada’s Marineland to […]
Thirteen beluga whales, part of a larger pod, have embarked on a journey from Canada to the United States. Their transfer began on July 21, with six of the cetaceans arriving there, followed by another seven on August 3. This marks the start of a year-long effort to rescue these whales from Marineland, a Canadian theme park that, due to new legislation in 2019, could no longer legally keep, breed, or trade cetaceans for entertainment purposes.
The belugas, Delphinapterus leucas, were transported in specialized, cold-water containers, making the journey across land and air to two U.S. facilities. Nine individuals were delivered to SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas, while four females were shipped to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois, in two separate batches. Throughout these treks, marine mammal veterinarians were present to ensure the whales' welfare.
Georgia Aquarium, located in Atlanta, expressed hope for receiving two more beluga whales from Marineland in future transfers. This international rescue operation was initiated by a group of accredited aquariums under the U.S.-based Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). These institutions came together to devise an emergency plan to rescue the belugas, who had been confined at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, for several years.
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