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NOAA Approves Transfer of 30 Beluga Whales from Closed Ontario Park to U.S. and Spanish Aquariums
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration approved an emergency plan last week to move the animals to accredited facilities. Twenty-eight whales will go to four U.S. aquariums and two will go to Spain. The park had threatened euthanasia if no transfer was approved.
Jul 12, 5:53 PM·1m read1 source
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration approved an emergency plan last week to transfer 30 beluga whales from the closed Marineland park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, nypost.com reported. The move sends 28 whales to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld San Antonio. The remaining two will go to Oceanogràfic València in Spain.
Marineland park closed to the public in 2024 after financial problems left it unable to provide adequate care. Twenty whales died at the site between 2019 and the present. The park stated in October that it would euthanize the remaining animals if a transfer was not approved.
Canadian veterinarians must clear each whale before travel. Dedicated care staff from the U.S. aquariums will arrive at Marineland to assess the animals and prepare them for transport. The rescue effort is expected to take several weeks.
The Canadian government denied Marineland’s request more than eight months ago to send the whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China. Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joanne Thompson said the denial followed a 2019 law that prohibits keeping whales and dolphins in captivity for entertainment.
Once cleared, the whales will receive diverse seafood, high-quality water and onsite medical care at their new facilities, according to a statement from the American aquarium consortium involved in the transfer.
