SeaWorld San Antonio To Receive 13 Belugas From Closed Canadian Park

U.S. authorities have approved an emergency plan to move 28 beluga whales from the shuttered Marineland theme park in Ontario to four accredited American aquariums, including SeaWorld San Antonio.

The plan calls for 13 whales to go to SeaWorld San Antonio, three to SeaWorld San Diego, 10 to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and two to Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Two additional belugas are expected to move to Oceanogràfic València in Spain, but the Spanish facility is still awaiting necessary permits.

Canadian authorities endorsed the broader relocation plan in June, and U.S. approval allows the American facilities to begin the rescue process.

Veterinarians must evaluate and clear each whale for travel before transport. The participating aquariums said the operation could take several weeks or months as teams prioritize the animals’ health and safety.

Marineland, located near Niagara Falls, closed to the public in late summer 2024 and later said financial problems had left it unable to provide long-term care for its remaining belugas.

The park warned that it might euthanize the whales if officials did not approve a relocation plan or provide additional financial support. Shedd Aquarium said Marineland and Canada’s zoological accrediting organization asked several U.S. aquariums to develop an emergency solution for the 30 belugas.

Canada previously rejected a proposal to send the whales to an aquarium in China. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said the proposed transfer conflicted with Canada’s 2019 law restricting the captivity and breeding of whales and dolphins for entertainment.

The emergency authorization request filed with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lists 13 belugas for SeaWorld of Texas, the largest group assigned to any single receiving facility.

The request states that the U.S. facilities have the space, veterinary resources and transport experience needed to provide continued care for the whales. Shedd Aquarium said it is preparing to accept up to 10 belugas at its 3-million-gallon cold-water oceanarium.

Georgia Aquarium said animal care teams will monitor the whales’ health, behavior and social groupings after arrival and slowly introduce them to existing beluga pods.

Twenty whales, including 19 belugas and one killer whale, have died at Marineland since 2019, according to provincial government data and official statements reviewed by The Canadian Press.

The aquariums said the relocation is a rescue operation designed to provide the whales with long-term veterinary care, specialized diets and monitored habitats. The animals will remain at Marineland until health assessments, transportation arrangements and remaining permits are complete.

Uhhhhh....why couldn't they have just released them into the ocean?

https://x.com/i/grok/share/dfc3b2dcb26047d39906f71d7cad825e

The 30 beluga whales at Ontario's Marineland would very likely not survive if released into the wild. Experts, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), consider it a near-certain death sentence for most or all of them due to their long-term captivity.

nunatsiaq.com

Key Reasons

Most were born in captivity or held long-term: Many (if not all) of Marineland's belugas have spent their entire lives in tanks. They lack essential wild survival skills, such as hunting live prey, navigating vast ocean environments, avoiding predators, and integrating into wild pods. DFO policy states that marine mammals held in captivity for more than two years or born in captivity for public display should not be released, as they cannot effectively hunt or fend for themselves.
nunatsiaq.com
Health and disease risks: Captive animals can carry pathogens or diseases that could spread to vulnerable wild populations. They might also introduce genetic issues. Releasing them poses risks to both the captives (who are vulnerable to new threats) and wild belugas.
nunatsiaq.com
Dependence on human care: These whales have been hand-fed dead fish their whole lives. Relearning natural foraging behaviors is extremely difficult, especially for a large group of ~30 animals. Belugas in the wild rely on complex social structures, migration patterns, and learned hunting techniques passed within pods.

Limited Precedents for ReleaseSuccessful releases of captive belugas are rare and typically involve animals with shorter captivity periods, extensive rehabilitation, and gradual transitions (e.g., via sea pens). Examples include:

Two belugas (Little Grey and Little White) moved from a Chinese facility to a large sea pen sanctuary in Iceland. This is a semi-wild environment with ongoing care—not full open-ocean release.
freedomforanimals.org.uk
A small group of Russian "whale jail" belugas released after short-term holding, but with mixed outcomes and significant preparation.

Full wild reintroduction for long-term captives like Marineland's is not considered viable by experts. Some optimistic views suggest intelligence and instincts might help, but evidence strongly favors low survival rates.

nunatsiaq.com

Current ContextMarineland closed to the public, and the whales faced potential euthanasia due to high care costs (reportedly ~$1 million/month). As of mid-2026, plans are in place to relocate them to accredited aquariums in the US (e.g., Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, SeaWorld locations) and Spain, avoiding both euthanasia and wild release.

nypost.com

In short: While the idea of freedom appeals, releasing these specific whales would almost certainly lead to starvation, predation, disease, or other failures. Sanctuaries or well-managed aquariums offer far better welfare outcomes for long-term captives. Releasing them isn't a humane or responsible "rescue" option according to marine mammal experts and regulators.

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