‘Bittersweet’: Canada’s last captive whales leave Marineland for U.S. aquariums

Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, says it has completed the world's largest collective move of captive whales and dolphins. Thirty belugas and four dolphins will be shipped to aquariums in the United States and Spain over the next few weeks. This marks the end of whale captivity in Canada, as the country banned the practice in 2019 and the Marineland park was unable to move its animals without the new federal law.

The massive operation required about 12 people to capture each whale and dolphin, one by one, and transport them in slings to the back of a crane. Trainers at Marineland said their goodbyes to the animals, one of whom, Odin, became close to trainer Taylor-Lee Dell during their time together. Dell recalled holding Odin's head as he was lifted into a transport trailer, trying to say goodbye and comfort him.

Some of the park's trainers may soon be out of work, as Taylor-Lee Dell is unsure what she will do next. "I'll never get to do this again ever in my life," she said, "and that's something I've kind of accepted."

The whales would have been euthanized if they could not be moved to new homes, according to the park's adviser Andrew Burns. Burns added that it is "unbelievable" that Marineland managed to pull off the complex operation, given that the park was out of money and time.

The move comes after the park spent millions of dollars to fix its water quality issues, which were brought to the attention of the provincial government in 2021 due to poor water quality and the deaths of several marine mammals at the park. Marineland has pointed to the 2019 law as the reason behind some of the deaths.

Over the past few years, Marineland has relocated many of its animals, including bison, penguins, and bears, but a dozen bears were moved earlier this year to a sanctuary in Colorado. Sources say a deal is in place for the park's property near Horseshoe Falls, but it is conditional upon the removal of all its animals.