An unfortunate incident has occurred as a dolphin, Echo, who was relocated from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain, has passed away. This marks the fifth animal to die following the major transfer of whales and dolphins from the now-closed tourist attraction.
Echo, a blind Black Sea bottlenose dolphin estimated to be around 30 years old, succumbed on Wednesday after experiencing difficulties with swallowing and breathing. Despite the attentive care provided by Oceanografic’s dedicated animal care and veterinary teams, Echo’s health deteriorated rapidly, leading to her passing overnight.
Previously, Echo and other marine creatures, including three dolphins and two belugas, were transported to the Spanish aquarium on a lengthy 19-hour journey from the shuttered Marineland in Niagara Falls on August 26. Tragically, one of the belugas, named Jelly Bean, had also recently passed away.
Oceanografic is currently conducting detailed examinations and necropsies on Echo and Jelly Bean, in collaboration with pathology experts from CEU Cardenal Herrera University, to determine the cause of their deaths. Despite the losses, the remaining rescued animals from Canada are reportedly in good health and are being closely monitored by Oceanografic’s experienced teams.
The situation at Marineland arose due to financial constraints leading to the decision to relocate the marine animals to various parks during the summer. This move resulted in the deaths of four belugas and one dolphin. The closure of Marineland in 2024 prompted the urgent need to find alternative care for the animals, as the park was facing difficulties in sustaining their well-being.
Following the failed deal with Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson intervened, expressing concerns about the welfare of the animals. The decision to euthanize the whales if emergency funding was not secured garnered international attention. Eventually, a collaboration between American and Spanish aquariums facilitated the successful relocation of the whales and dolphins.
Both Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and Oceanografic Valencia are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the animals’ deaths to gain insights into the unfortunate incidents.
