NOAA Authorizes Transfer of 30 Beluga Whales from Closed Canadian Park to U.S. Aquariums

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration authorized an emergency rescue earlier in July for roughly 30 beluga whales trapped at Marineland, a shuttered Canadian theme park near Niagara Falls that closed in 2024, Usa Today reported. The Georgia Aquarium is one of four accredited U.S. aquariums set to receive the whales.

Arrival dates depend on clearance from Canadian veterinarians. Beluga whales use echolocation to locate prey in dark or murky waters, a trait suited to their shallow freshwater habitats near Arctic sea ice. The melon on the head changes shape during sound production to direct the signals.

Belugas belong to the Monodontidae family of toothed whales, with the narwhal as the only other living member. These whales lack a dorsal fin and possess unfused neck vertebrae that allow them to nod and turn their heads. They produce chirps, clicks, whistles and squeals to communicate within pods that range from a few individuals to hundreds.

In fall they move south as ice forms and return north in spring when the ice breaks up. Belugas often appear near river mouths and sometimes swim upstream to feed on fish runs. Their diet includes salmon, herring, shrimp, crabs and mollusks.

Average weight ranges from 1,100 to 2,500 pounds, though one recorded specimen reached 3,600 pounds. Average length falls between 11 and 15 feet according to the Georgia Aquarium, while the World Wildlife Fund lists a broader range of 8.5 to 22 feet. Average lifespan spans 35 to 50 years, with some wild individuals reaching 80 years.

Marine biologists determine age by counting growth layer groups in teeth, similar to tree rings.