Tofino, a massive beluga weighing over 1,500 kilograms, has become the final captive whale in Canada to be removed from Marineland’s facilities. The theme park in Niagara Falls, Ont., carried out the largest collective transfer of captive whales globally on Monday, sending 30 belugas and four dolphins to five aquariums in the United States and Spain over a period of several weeks. Following a federal law passed in 2019, no whales or dolphins are believed to remain in captivity in Canada.
A team of experts assembled on Monday to relocate the last six belugas from Marineland. Two of the belugas, Yukon and Gimli, are headed to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while the other four, Tank, Odin, Orion, and Tofino, will be housed at SeaWorld San Antonio. Approximately 12 individuals worked together to manage the whales, guiding them into slings one by one before lifting them using a crane into tanks on transport trailers. Trainers bid emotional farewells to the animals, with Taylor-Lee Dell, who developed a close bond with Odin over five years, expressing deep sadness at the separation.
Dell emphasized the love and care the whales received while working with them and highlighted the challenges faced amidst a growing anti-captivity movement in Canada. The park’s adviser, Andrew Burns, mentioned that the whales would have been euthanized if they couldn’t be relocated to new homes, as Marineland faced financial and time constraints. The complex operation involved shipping the marine mammals to various facilities in the United States and Spain.
The ban on whale and dolphin captivity in Canada came into effect in 2019, grandfathering in the animals at Marineland but prohibiting breeding activities and performances. This legislation marked a turning point for Marineland, which was established in 1961 by John Holer and grew to be a popular amusement park in Canada. However, with the passing of John Holer in 2018 and the detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marineland faced challenges that led to its decline.
The park underwent significant changes in recent years, relocating many of its animals and preparing to sell its property near Horseshoe Falls. Despite a failed attempt to export belugas and dolphins to China due to regulatory restrictions, a consortium of aquariums in the United States stepped in to support Marineland. The relocation process was not without risks, as evidenced by the unfortunate death of a beluga at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago shortly after its transfer.
Former Marineland trainers expressed mixed emotions about the animals’ departures, reflecting on the impact of the anti-captivity law and the need for proper care facilities for the relocated whales. The public perception of whale captivity shifted over time, influenced by testimonies from former employees like Phil Demers, who advocated for improved treatment of captive animals. As the last belugas left Marineland, Demers observed the convoy with a sense of closure, acknowledging the park’s transition away from marine mammal captivity.
