A group of 30 beluga whales are finally being given a new chance after spending years stranded at a closed theme park in Ontario, Canada.
The whales had remained at Marineland in Niagara Falls after the attraction closed to visitors in 2024, leaving the future of the animals uncertain.
With no longer enough funding to continue caring for the belugas, the park had warned that it may have been forced to euthanise them if a relocation plan was not approved.
A rescue plan has now been approved by Canadian and US authorities, allowing the whales to be transferred to accredited facilities in North America, with some also expected to move to Europe.
The move will see the belugas relocated to Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and SeaWorld facilities in San Diego and San Antonio. Another facility in Spain, Oceanogràfic Valencia, is also part of the wider relocation effort.
The first stage of the rescue operation has already begun, with several whales starting their journey to new homes after passing health checks.
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The animals are being transported with specialist equipment, alongside marine mammal veterinarians and animal care teams to ensure the move is as safe and stress-free as possible.
The process has taken months of planning, with experts carefully assessing the whales’ health, social groups and individual needs before travel.
A statement from the participating aquariums said:
"Once the belugas are cleared for travel by Canadian veterinarians, aquarium experts will accompany the animals to their new homes, where they will be met with diverse seafood to meet their nutritional needs, high quality environments with guaranteed water quality, and onsite medical care should they require it at any time."
The rescue comes after a long period of uncertainty for the belugas. A previous plan to send the whales to China was rejected by Canadian authorities over concerns about their future care.
Belugas are known as highly intelligent and social marine mammals, often living together in close family groups called pods. The rescue teams say maintaining those social connections will be an important part of the relocation process.
While the move has been welcomed as a major step forward for the animals, experts say the operation is not simple. Each whale must be monitored carefully during transport and after arriving at its new home to help them adjust to their surroundings.
The participating facilities have said the belugas will receive specialist veterinary care, tailored diets and environments designed around their health and wellbeing.
