One of the more remarkable animal stories in Canada right now involves the 30 beluga whales still living at the former Marineland facility in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
After months of uncertainty, a new rescue plan is moving forward that could see the remaining whales relocated to accredited aquariums in Spain and the United States.
Last week, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada endorsed a proposal that would split the belugas among several facilities, including Oceanogràfic València in Spain, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and SeaWorld locations in San Diego and San Antonio.
The whales have been living in limbo since last fall, when Marineland’s request to export them to a marine park in China was denied by the federal government. At the time, concerns were raised about the future care of the animals, and discussions about relocation began gaining urgency.
Marineland itself closed to the public in 2024 following the deaths of owners John and Marie Holer, although staff have continued caring for the animals that remain on site.
Before any transfers can happen, several important steps still need to be completed. Each whale must undergo veterinary examinations to ensure it is healthy enough to travel. Import permits from both the United States and Spain are also required, along with final export approval from the Canadian government.
Officials say the process could move relatively quickly once those approvals are secured.
One reason experts are optimistic is because some of the organizations involved have experience handling incredibly complex whale relocations. Oceanogràfic València was part of an international effort in 2024 that successfully evacuated two beluga whales from war-torn Ukraine. The animals were transported hundreds of kilometres across the country before eventually being flown to Spain in a specialized operation involving trucks, cranes, and aircraft.
Those same organizations are now helping plan the Marineland relocation effort.
While there is still no confirmed timeline, the proposal offers a potential future for the belugas after months of uncertainty. If approved, it would become one of the largest coordinated marine mammal relocation projects in recent years.
For now, the whales remain in Niagara Falls while officials work through the final health checks, permits, and logistics needed to make the move happen.
