A dolphin named Echo, who was shipped from Marineland in Canada to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain, has tragically passed away, marking the fifth death of animals from the closed Niagara Falls tourist attraction. Echo, a blind Black Sea bottlenose dolphin believed to be 30 years old, experienced difficulties swallowing and respiratory problems before her untimely death. Along with Echo, three other dolphins and two belugas were transported to Spain in a lengthy journey but have since been closely monitored. Unfortunately, one of the belugas, Jelly Bean, also succumbed to death recently.
Oceanografic is currently conducting investigations and necropsies on the deceased animals to determine the cause of death. The surviving animals from the group sent from Canada are being well taken care of by the professional teams at Oceanografic.
This loss has been particularly challenging for the Oceanografic team, who had been providing dedicated care to Echo due to her specific needs. The movement of 30 belugas and four dolphins from Marineland to various parks over the summer has resulted in the deaths of four belugas and one dolphin. The closures of Marineland due to financial constraints led to the urgent relocation of the animals to prevent euthanization.
The move of the whales and dolphins to different facilities was a last-minute effort to ensure their well-being and survival. Investigations are ongoing at both Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and Oceanografic to understand the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these animals.
