Six beluga whales are airlifted from abandoned Canadian Marineland for a new life in US sanctuary after officials threatened to euthanise them

By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:47, 22 July 2026 | Updated: 15:59, 22 July 2026 Six beluga whales have been rescued from an abandoned theme park in Canada after officials threatened to euthanise them.  Marineland, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, has been closed to the public for two years, and in 2025 officials threatened to end the lives of 30 beluga whales who remained in the park.  But after years of campaigning, a mission to move them to new homes in the US kick-started on Monday, with six of the remaining beluga whales moved to facilities in the US, including the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and Sea World in San Antonio. 'It's a milestone - we've been trying to do this for a decade,' said Marketa Schusterova, the co-founder of TideBreakers - the charity who have campaigned for the rescue. 'The TideBreakers team has monitored Marineland Canada, documenting conditions, exposing animal deaths, and advocating for improved welfare for every animal held at the facility. 'Since 2019, 20 animals have died at the facility, including 19 beluga whales and Kiska, Canada's last captive orca.' Images show the huge rescue mission that took place on Monday, where cranes lifted the animals - weighing up to 3,500lbs - into transport trucks. Because the whales are not fit for release, they will likely live out the rest of their lives in captivity at other facilities. Members of the relocation teams from Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, SeaWorld San Antonio and the Georgia Aquarium use a sling to move a beluga whale, one of the first batch of six to be transported to aquariums in the U.S., at the closed marine park Marineland Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada July 20, 2026 Images show the huge rescue mission that took place on Monday, where cranes lifted the animals into transport trucks The park has been closed to the public for two years, and in 2025 it threatened to euthanise 30 animals that had been left alone in its tanks TideBreakers have campaigned to move the remaining animals at Marineland to a safer environment for years, and in 2019 Canada passed the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, bringing an end to the breeding and future captivity of cetaceans for entertainment. However, the charity noted that despite this, 'there are currently no operational sea sanctuaries for beluga whales anywhere in the world capable of receiving these animals immediately'. 'As a result, relocation to another captive facility is presently the only realistic short-term option to improve the welfare of animals living in deteriorating conditions while long-term sanctuary solutions continue to be developed,' Marketa said. And this is a wider issue than Marineland alone. Around the world, marine parks are closing, leaving whales and dolphins caught in a growing welfare crisis while governments, facility owners, scientists, and advocacy organisations debate the best long-term solutions. 'We cannot simply demand that facilities 'empty the tanks' without having safe, practical destinations ready for the animals,' Marketa says. 'We hope governments, accredited facilities, scientists, and non-governmental organisations can work together to develop realistic, compassionate solutions that protect the animals both today and in the future,' Marketa adds.  'Our shared goal should be to end cetacean captivity responsibly while ensuring no animal is left to suffer in the process.' Beluga whale 'Frankie' is transported by a group of experts from Marineland and several U.S. aquariums onto a truck via a sling at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Monday, July 20, 2026 Four beluga whales, among the first batch of six to be transported to aquariums in the U.S., swim in a pool at the closed marine park Marineland Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada July 20, 2026 Marineland shut after the death of the zoo's owners, John Holer and Marie Holer, in 2024, according to CBC A member of the relocation team from Chicago's Shedd Aquarium touches a beluga whale, one of the first batch of six to be transported to aquariums in the U.S., after its relocation from the closed marine park Marineland Canada to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. July 21, 2026 The move to rescue the beluga whales at Marineland comes after the zoo presented what it called an urgent rescue solution to the federal government earlier this year A date for the rescue of the remaining 24 belugas is yet to be confirmed A date for the rescue of the remaining 24 belugas is yet to be confirmed. Marineland shut after the death of the zoo's owners, John Holer and Marie Holer, in 2024, according to CBC. It is understood staff continued to care for the sea creatures. The move to rescue the beluga whales at Marineland comes after the zoo presented what it called an urgent rescue solution to the federal government in Canada earlier this year.