Canada’s final captive dolphins are being relocated from Marineland to a new facility in Spain as part of a global rescue mission to transfer marine mammals, including beluga whales, from the closed park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Unfortunately, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where some of the belugas were taken, reported the sudden death of Peekachu, a 23-year-old female whale from Marineland, due to dehydration despite efforts to provide care and fluids.
While the Chicago aquarium expressed deep sadness over Peekachu’s passing, it highlighted that it had taken in a total of eight belugas from Marineland and was committed to providing the best care for the remaining whales. At Marineland, trainers spent several hours loading four dolphins and two belugas onto transport trucks bound for Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, where they will be flown to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.
Echo, Lida, Marina, and Tsunami, the dolphins, will be accompanied by belugas Cleopatra and Jelly Bean on their journey. The six remaining belugas at Marineland, the last captive whales in Canada, are also slated to be transferred to a U.S. aquarium soon. This relocation marks the largest collective move of captive whales and dolphins, involving a total of 30 belugas and four dolphins, initiated in mid-July following Marineland’s decision to relocate all its animals due to financial constraints and the property being up for sale.
Originally intended for transfer to an aquarium in China, the move was blocked by the Canadian government citing non-compliance with a 2019 law prohibiting whale and dolphin captivity, breeding, and performances. Following this, Marineland sought financial assistance from a group of American and Spanish aquariums, leading to the belugas being distributed among various locations including SeaWorld sites in San Diego and San Antonio, Shedd Aquarium, and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.