'Emergency rescue' of Marineland's beluga whales to U.S. aquariums has begun
An emergency rescue operation has begun to relocate beluga whales from Marineland in Canada to various aquariums in the United States. The mission involves a consortium of accredited facilities and aims to ensure the safety of the animals following long-standing concerns about their welfare.
Why it matters
The relocation addresses animal welfare concerns and the potential threat of euthanasia that the whales faced at the former park.
Six belugas are being moved in a process that began Monday. The transport plan could see up to 30 of the remaining whales at the former park rehomed to U.S. aquariums over the next few weeks.
A statement from the office of Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson confirmed the start of the relocation efforts.
"The first wave of the rescue mission at Marineland is underway," it said. "The rescue operation is being led by a consortium of accredited aquariums, and they will be sharing details as it progresses."
Thompson also thanked veterinarians at the site of the relocation efforts and "all organizations leading the work to ensure they are transported safely."
Belugas can grow up to a length of 4.5 metres or more and weigh as much as 1,900 kilograms, so the operation was a delicate one involving special hoists, cranes, several transport trucks and more than two dozen workers.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in