Overview
- The final six belugas were moved out of Marineland on Monday, completing the staged relocation that shipped 30 belugas and four dolphins to five aquariums.
- Receiving institutions include Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, SeaWorld San Antonio and SeaWorld San Diego, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and Oceanogràfic València in Spain.
- The federal government blocked an earlier sale to China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, prompting Marineland to work with a U.S. and Spanish consortium to find new homes for the animals.
- Transferred whales are under veterinary care and not on public display, and one beluga that arrived at Shedd, Peekachu, died about two weeks after arrival with necropsy results still pending.
- Marineland is closed and up for sale with reports that the property deal is conditional on removing the animals, and former trainers face job loss as the park’s future is decided.