Full Breakdown
Canada’s Last Captive Belugas Depart Niagara Falls, Ending Whale Captivity
9/2/2026, 8:29:35 PM
Final Relocation Marks End of Captive Whales in Canada
On Monday, Marineland — the shuttered tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario — completed the transfer of its final six beluga whales. Two animals were loaded onto a transport trailer bound for the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while the remaining four were headed to SeaWorld San Antonio. The move concludes a multi-month effort that has relocated a total of 30 belugas and four dolphins to five facilities in the United States and Spain, leaving no whales or dolphins in captivity anywhere in Canada.
Background & Context
Canada’s 2019 federal ban on whale and dolphin captivity grandfathered the marine mammals already held at Marineland, prohibiting breeding and performances but allowing existing animals to remain. The law forced the park to separate male and female belugas and set the stage for the eventual phase-out of its marine-mammal program. Founder John Holer built Marineland in the 1960s; after his death in 2018, his widow Marie Holer oversaw a period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, financial strain, and a blocked 2025 attempt to sell the animals to China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom.
Data & Statistics
- Total animals moved to date: 30 belugas and 4 dolphins.
- Belugas remaining before the final transfer: 6 (now relocated).
- Mortalities at Marineland since 2019: 19 belugas, 1 killer whale, 1 dolphin (tally compiled by The Canadian Press).
- A 23-year-old beluga, Peekachu, died two weeks after arriving at the Shedd Aquarium; the aquarium reported severe dehydration as the cause.
Official Statements & Responses
Dr. Karisa Tang, lead veterinarian at the Shedd Aquarium, described the move as the beginning of a “long journey” to help the whales adjust, noting that caretakers are learning daily how each animal eats, rests and interacts.
Marineland adviser Andrew Burns warned that without a viable relocation plan the park would have faced euthanasia of the whales, calling the operation “unbelievable” given the park’s limited finances and time.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The death of beluga Peekachu after relocation highlights health risks inherent in long-distance transport. While the Shedd Aquarium attributes the death to severe dehydration, no independent veterinary assessment has been released, leaving uncertainty about whether transport conditions contributed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There will no longer be any beluga whales or any other type of whales in captivity in Canada at the end of today,” — Andrew Burns, Marineland's adviser
- “Part of me is relieved because obviously the animals are safe and not under the constant threat of euthanasia, but it's also bittersweet and sad because, well, they're leaving,” — Kristy Burgess
What’s Next
Marineland’s property near Horseshoe Falls remains on the market, with prospective buyers required to complete the animal-removal condition before any sale can close. No further captive marine mammals are expected to remain in Canada, and the federal government has indicated that future permits for marine-mammal captivity will continue to be denied under the 2019 legislation.
