Trainers at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., moved four dolphins and two belugas onto transport tanks Wednesday, part of a broader relocation effort to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain. The animals were loaded onto trucks bound for Pearson airport in Toronto for the international journey, marking another step in the shuttered park’s mammal relocation program.
The operation unfolded over several hours as staff carefully prepared the tanks and secured the animals for travel. The visible process showed the dolphins being handled with a sling as part of the transfer, with a team of experts coordinating the removal and loading of the mammals. The image accompanying the update depicts a dolphin amid the logistics of the move at Marineland.
In a separate development tied to the broader relocation, a beluga that had been moved to the United States has died. The report notes the beluga’s death in connection with the ongoing transfer activities, though it does not specify the exact cause or timing beyond the loss.
Officials continuing the relocation indicated the ongoing effort involves transporting multiple mammals from the shuttered facility to partner facilities and destinations abroad. The focus remains on ensuring the remaining animals’ welfare during the transition, with the current action representing another logistical milestone in the plan to relocate the park’s remaining inhabitants.
No other details were provided about the health status of the animals prior to the move or the precise timelines for the remaining transfers. The report emphasizes the completion of the loading process on Wednesday as part of Marineland’s continuing efforts to relocate its dolphins and belugas to their new homes.
