Canada’s Last Captive Whales and Dolphins to be Moved to US Parks
Canada’s Fisheries Minister, Joanne Thompson, has given her conditional approval to Marineland’s proposal to relocate the country’s final captive whales and dolphins to various parks in the United States. The plan involves transferring 30 belugas and four dolphins from the shuttered Niagara Falls theme park to American institutions.
Thompson’s requirements for the move include a thorough health evaluation of the marine animals by a certified veterinarian and a detailed transport strategy to ensure their safe journey to the new locations. Marineland is currently in discussions with prominent U.S. facilities such as Shedd Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, and SeaWorld for the relocation process.
This decision follows Marineland’s submission of an “urgent rescue solution” to the federal government, urging swift action to approve the export permits. If the permits were not granted by the end of January, Marineland had indicated a grim alternative of euthanizing the belugas and dolphins as outlined in a letter from Minister Thompson to the park, obtained by The Canadian Press.