A dolphin named Echo, who was transported from Marineland in Canada to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain, has tragically passed away. This marks the fifth death among the animals relocated from the closed tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario, during a significant movement of whales and dolphins over the summer.
Echo, a 30-year-old blind Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, experienced difficulties with swallowing and respiratory issues before succumbing to her condition on Wednesday. Despite the diligent care provided by Oceanografic’s animal care and veterinary teams, her health rapidly declined, leading to her passing.
Along with three other dolphins and two belugas, Echo was part of a group transferred to the Spanish aquarium on a challenging 19-hour journey on August 26. Unfortunately, one of the belugas, Jelly Bean, also passed away last week.
In response to these deaths, Oceanografic is conducting necropsies on Echo and Jelly Bean, collaborating with experts at CEU Cardenal Herrera University to determine the cause of their untimely demise. The remaining rescued animals from Canada are being closely monitored and cared for by Oceanografic’s dedicated teams.
The loss of Echo has deeply impacted the Oceanografic staff, who had shown exceptional dedication to her well-being due to her specific needs since her arrival.
This unfortunate event adds to the toll of four belugas and one dolphin that have now perished following the transfer of 30 belugas and four dolphins from Marineland to various parks earlier in the summer. Investigations are ongoing at both Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and Oceanografic to shed light on the circumstances surrounding these deaths.
Marineland’s closure in 2024 prompted the movement of the marine animals, as the park cited financial constraints preventing proper care for the whales. After a deal with Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China was rejected, the whales faced euthanasia unless emergency funding was secured.
Ultimately, a consortium of American and Spanish aquariums came to the rescue, facilitating the relocation process that concluded by the end of August. The international community has been closely following the developments surrounding the fate of these marine mammals.
