Niagara

Canada's last captive whales set to leave Marineland for U.S. aquariums

By
The Canadian Press

Published: 

Canada’s last captive whales are leaving the country today, with the six final belugas being shipped to the U.S. to head to their new homes.

NIAGARA FALLS — Canada’s last captive whales are set to leave the country today as the six belugas from Marineland are headed to two aquariums in the United States.

The closed Niagara Falls, Ont., tourist attraction is up for sale and the park has said it is running out of money and can no longer care for its animals.

Once today’s journey is complete, Marineland will have shipped 30 belugas and four dolphins over six moves to five different aquariums in the largest collective relocation of captive whales the world has ever seen.

Dolphin "Echo" is caught to be transported by a group of experts from Marineland and aquariums from Spain onto a truck via a sling at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont. on Wednesday Aug. 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio Dolphin "Echo" is caught to be transported by a group of experts from Marineland and aquariums from Spain onto a truck via a sling at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., on Wednesday Aug. 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio

The whales and dolphins have moved to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, SeaWorld locations in San Diego and San Antonio, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.

Canada banned whale and dolphin captivity in 2019, but grandfathered in the animals at Marineland.

The federal government blocked a previous plan to move the whales to an aquarium in China, which prompted Marineland to threaten to euthanize the animals if it did not get an emergency cash infusion.

Marineland An aerial view shows the beluga whale pools at Marineland during a visit to the park in Niagara Falls, Ont., on June 29, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2026.

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press