After years stuck at a closed marine park, 30 captive beluga whales at Ontario’s Marineland are now set to be moved under a plan approved by US and Canadian authorities.
NOAA and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans have approved the transfer of 28 belugas to four US aquariums. Spanish authorities are still considering permits for the final two whales, which are slated to go to Oceanogràfic València in Spain.
Marineland, near Niagara Falls, had continued to house the belugas after the park shut down amid controversy over keeping intelligent marine mammals in captivity. The park had run out of money to care for and feed the whales, and had threatened to euthanize them if Canada did not approve permits to move them elsewhere.
A previous attempt to send the whales to China was rejected.
Because beluga whales are listed in appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species, moving them across borders requires CITES permits.
The US aquariums preparing to receive the animals are the Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld San Antonio.
Before the transfers can begin, accredited veterinarians must clear the whales for travel and the transport arrangements must be finalised.
“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 four American aquariums said in a statement.
“This rescue effort will take several weeks to mobilize and complete, and the comfort and safety of the whales remains of the utmost importance. Details will continue to change as this process moves forward, but the aquariums are committed to providing accurate updates along the way.”
Read more from Good News Network.
