U.S. government approves emergency rescue of belugas from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont.

U.S. government approves emergency rescue of belugas from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont.

Most of the 30 whales could be shipped within weeks once cleared for travel

The U.S. government has formally approved an emergency rescue of most of the beluga whales from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., to aquariums in the United States.

Moving the whales from the once-popular theme park a few kilometres from the Horseshoe Falls to the American aquariums is expected to take some weeks and still involves some steps including clearance by Canadian veterinarians for the whales to travel.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently endorsed a rescue plan for the 30 belugas still living at the theme park closed to the public in 2024, which would see the whales split up and sent to Oceanogràfic València in Spain or one of four U.S. locations: Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and two SeaWorld facilities in San Diego, Calif., and San Antonio, Texas.

Johnny Ford, vice-president of communications for Shedd Aquarium, told CBC on Wednesday that under the current plan 28 of the belugas will be taken to the American aquariums, with two other whales bound for Spain.

The Spanish aquarium is still awaiting the necessary permits from the Spanish government, the American aquarium collective said in a statement Wednesday.

Marineland no longer able to care for whales

The group said Marineland is in a "financial crisis and is no longer willing or able to continue their [whales'] care."

Marineland said it welcomed the U.S. authorization of the relocation. "We recognize we can no longer provide the long-term care these animals require, and we believe this rescue. . .is in the whales' best interest," Marineland said.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration authorized the emergency rescue, sending the whales to the aquariums in the U.S. that are all accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

DFO Minister Joanne Thompson said in a statement on Wednesday that the approval "is an encouraging and critical next step for the safe relocation of the whales."

Permits from The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES) needed to take the whales out of the country have been issued, and as a condition of approving the export permits a health check for each animal must be completed by a Canadian veterinarian, Thompson said.

"Once this step has been completed and all appropriate documentation has been provided to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, I will provide the final Fisheries Act authorizations to enable the relocation," she said.

The latest milestone means dedicated care staff from the U.S. aquariums will soon arrive at Marineland to assess the whales' well-being and make preparations for travel, the American consortium said.

High-quality environments await, U.S. aquariums say

"Once the belugas are cleared for travel by Canadian veterinarians, aquarium experts will accompany the animals to their new homes, where they will be met with diverse seafood to meet their nutritional needs, high quality environments with guaranteed water quality and onsite medical care should they require it at any time," their statement said.

"This rescue effort will take several weeks to mobilize and complete, and the comfort and safety of the whales remains of the utmost importance," the statement read. "Details will continue to change as this process moves forward, but the aquariums are committed to providing accurate updates along the way."

Last January, CBC News reported that Marineland was threatening to euthanize the 30 belugas and four dolphins unless Canada granted permission to ship them to the United States.

That came after the DFO last fall denied Marineland's request to export its belugas to a theme park in China.

Fate of remaining deer, elk at closed Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., still uncertain

Federal government denies Marineland request to export belugas

In a statement at the time, Thompson said she could not in good conscience approve the export to China and that her decision aligned with regulations in the Fisheries Act to protect marine mammals from exploitation.

To approve the request would have meant a continued life in captivity and a return to public entertainment, Thompson said.

Paul Forsyth is a St. Catharines-based CBC reporter covering communities in the Niagara Region. He has decades of reporting experience in Niagara, having worked for Niagara This Week, the St. Catharines Standard and the Welland Tribune before joining CBC. You can reach him at paul.forsyth@cbc.ca.