On July 16, 2026, CBS News reported on the relocation of twenty-eight beluga whales from a closed Canadian theme park to aquariums across the United States. Federal officials approved an emergency import earlier in the month as part of an international rescue effort.
Marineland, located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, closed to the public in 2024. It continued to house the whales despite stating it lacked the resources for their care. A year after closing, the park announced that without a relocation plan or additional funding, it would be forced to euthanize the animals. Accredited aquariums such as SeaWorld San Antonio and San Diego, Georgia Aquarium, and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago are set to receive the whales.
A joint statement from the aquariums mentioned that two additional whales would be sent to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain, pending Spanish government permit approvals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the relocation in July, ensuring access to necessary medical treatment and care for the whales. The administration commented that “there are no other facilities in Canada able to provide the required husbandry or medical care.”
The rescue operation will take weeks to mobilize and focus on the whales’ comfort and safety.
Scrutiny has increased regarding Marineland’s treatment of animals. From 2019, twenty whales reportedly died at the facility according to The Canadian Press news agency. Canada’s legislative measures in 2019 ended captive whale and dolphin practices.
In January, Canada’s Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson tentatively approved the whales’ move to the U.S. The Canadian government’s final export authorization hinges on veterinarians’ health checks for each whale. Thompson explained these conditions in a statement dated July 8. AFP contributed additional details to the report.
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