Canada's last captive dolphins leave Marineland for Spain as rescue efforts continue
In a historic relocation effort, four dolphins and two beluga whales departed from the shuttered Marineland theme park in Niagara Falls to new homes in Spain and the U.S., marking the end of cetacean captivity in Canada.
Final Dolphins Depart Marineland
Canada's last captive dolphins have left Marineland for a new home in Spain while a beluga recently relocated from the park has died in a Chicago aquarium. Trainers worked over several hours Wednesday morning at the shuttered theme park in Niagara Falls, Ont., to load four dolphins and two belugas into tanks on transport trucks that headed to Toronto Pearson International Airport for the journey to Oceanografic Valencia.
Echo, Lida, Marina and Tsunami are the dolphins leaving Marineland on Wednesday, joined by belugas Cleopatra and Jelly Bean. The belugas were the last beluga females in captivity in Canada.
Park's Ongoing Struggles
The park's animals have struggled in recent years, with one killer whale, 19 belugas and one dolphin dying there since 2019. Marineland was put up for sale two years ago and sources say a deal is in place to sell the land once all the animals are gone. The largest collective move of captive whales and dolphins — 30 belugas and four dolphins — has been underway since mid-July as Marineland moves all of its animals off the property.
For families visiting the Niagara Falls region, the closure of Marineland marks a significant change in the local tourism landscape. If you're familiar with the park from previous visits, the relocation of these marine mammals represents the end of an era and reflects broader changes in animal welfare policy in Canada.
Sources
MyHAbroad is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representing any government or public authority. This is general information only — not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Always verify with the official source before acting:
