'Emergency rescue' of 30 beluga whales from abandoned theme park finally begins
Most abandoned theme parks leave behind a few dodgy-looking rollercoasters.
Marineland in Niagra Falls, Canada had a bigger problem: 30 beluga whales.
An 'emergency rescue' mission to remove and rehouse a pod of whales from an abandoned amusement park, that has been closed since September 2024, is finally underway this week.
The belugas have been at the centre of a lengthy battle over their future ever since Marineland shut its doors, leaving the whales with nowhere else to go.
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While theme park staff stayed behind to care for the aquatic mammals, there were growing concerns over the conditions at the park.
The stakes got even higher last year, when it was confirmed that the beluga whales may have had to be euthanised if a new home could not be found for them.
Thankfully, that nightmare has been swiftly avoided and the first batch of belugas are already en route to their new homes.
On Monday (20 July), images from the rescue mission showed the enormous operation getting underway, with the whales being lifted from their habitat using a sling attached to a heavy-duty crane.
Moving 30 beluga whales is no small task, considering the gorgeous sea creatures can weigh up to 3,500lbs and measure up to 4.5 metres in length.
But with more than two dozen crew members and several transport trucks on the scene, these belugas are finally starting their journey.
The first batch of whales to be transported to their new homes include Sierra, Acadia, Osiris and Lilooet, who are heading to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois, and Bertie Botts and Frankie, who are off to SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas.
However, each beluga will still need to undergo a medical exam and health check by Canadian veterinarians to make sure they're fit for travel.
Confirming the start of the operation this week, Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said in a statement seen by CBC News: "The first wave of the rescue mission at Marineland is underway.
“The rescue operation is being led by a consortium of accredited aquariums and they will be sharing details as it progresses."
The Niagara Regional Police Service has also confirmed it is 'assisting with traffic control in support of the transportation'.
Last week, officials from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that a plan to remove the belugas from the amusement park had been green lit, and that the creatures would be transported to 'different aquariums and marine parks.'
A representative from the American Aquarium Consortium said that the mission would take 'several weeks to mobilize and complete', with the 'comfort and safety of the whales' being 'of the utmost importance.'
Topics: Animals, World News
Ali Condon