Six beluga whales finally leave embattled Canadian marine park

Six beluga whales have at last left Marineland, the embattled Canadian marine park in Niagara Falls that previously threatened to kill its own animals, and are arriving at US aquariums this week.

While the whales’ journey into the US marks the end of their long and controversial saga of captivity in Canada, advocates say the new conditions, though superior to Marineland, could bring continued challenges.

“There’s obviously some relief, but it’s hard for me to frankly endorse any of the facilities that these animals are going to,” said Phil Demers, who trained whales at Marineland from 2000 to 2012 before becoming an outspoken critic of the park.

Demers is hopeful that US parks are subject to more stringent oversight of animal care in comparison with Canada.

“I’m happy for the animals. I just know that the fight for their improved existence will probably last their entire lifetimes,” he said.

Marineland operated from the early 1960s until 2024, when it in effect closed to visitors. The park had one of the largest captive whale populations in the world but had long been plagued by reports of poor conditions for the animals.

Twenty whales – 19 belugas and one orca – have died at the park since 2019, according to documents compiled by the Canadian Press.

Dwindling visitors, bad press and the passage of a 2019 federal law that banned the sale, captivity and breeding of dolphins and whales led to the park’s decline. The controversies soon developed into a feud between Marineland, the Canadian government and activists. The government blocked Marinelands’s attempt to transfer its whales to a theme park in China over concerns the animals would be treated poorly. Marineland responded in October 2025 by threatening to euthanise its 30 belugas if the federal government did not support the park financially.

Last month, Canada and Marineland reached a deal to rehome the belugas to a consortium of American aquariums in Georgia, Chicago, San Diego and San Antonio, along with the Oceanogràfic València aquarium in Spain.

On Monday the whales were lifted out of their tanks in slings and taken to Toronto Pearson international airport, where they were put on planes. Sierra, Acadia, Osiris and Lillooet arrived at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while Bertie Botts and Frankie were transported to SeaWorld in San Antonio, according to the Canadian Press.

Twenty-four other whales and two dolphins remain at Marineland.

Shedd aquarium said in a statement on 8 July that it planned to “rescue” up to 10 of Marineland’s whales. “Once the rescued whales arrive safely at Shedd, the belugas will have access to a diverse variety of nutritional seafood items to eat, healthy habitats, clean water and plenty of individualised care,” it said.

SeaWorld San Antonio said: “Our commitment is clear. These whales need help and we are ready to help them.”

Marineland told the Canadian Press on Monday that “above all else, the safe, healthy, and comfortable transfer of these whales to their new homes remains our unwavering priority”.

The Canadian advocacy group Animal Justice said it remained concerned about the whales because of Marineland’s “lack of transparency” about their wellbeing.

“Marineland has never been honest with the public about the health of these sensitive, highly intelligent animals, and that pattern of secrecy hasn’t changed now that a handful of whales are finally being moved out,” said executive director Camille Labchuk in a statement.

The group is calling on the US aquariums to guarantee that the whales will not be used for breeding or forced performances that are now banned under Canadian law.