Six beluga whales have arrived at aquariums in the United States, marking the first stage of an unprecedented international relocation effort from Marineland of Canada in Niagara Falls.
Sierra, Acadia, Osiris and Lillooet were delivered to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while Bertie Botts and Frankie arrived at SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas. The whales were transported in specialised cold-water containers by truck and plane, accompanied by marine mammal veterinarians. Canada's fisheries minister, Joanne Thompson, confirmed the first phase of the rescue operation is underway.
The transfers follow a June 2026 agreement between the Canadian government and Marineland to rehome the park's 30 remaining belugas across a consortium of facilities in the US and Spain. Marineland, which closed to visitors in 2024, had threatened to euthanise its whales last year without federal financial support. Twenty-four other whales and two dolphins remain at the park.