Beluga Wave: Six Whales Fly to New Homes in US

Sun Sep 06 2026 14:17:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Six beluga whales make a trans‑Atlantic move, landing in Chicago and San Antonio as the first step of a global relocation plan.

A closed Canadian marine park sent six beluga whales to new U.S. homes after the park closed for resource reasons. Three whales arrived in Chicago, while three landed at SeaWorld San Antonio. The move was carried out in temperature‑controlled units and monitored by marine‑mammal vets. This relocation, part of a larger effort to rehome 30 whales, highlights the challenges of keeping large marine mammals in captivity. The program hopes to provide safe, enriched environments for the whales as they acclimate to their new facilities.

Beluga Wave: Six Whales Fly to New Homes in US

Six beluga whales recently landed in aquariums in the United States after their Canadian home, the Marineland Marine Park, shut down for resource reasons. The whales, part of a pod of 30 at the park, are being relocated in a multi‑country effort to ensure their care.

Three of them—Sierra, Acadia and Osiris—arrived at the Chicago Marine Conservation Centre, while the other three—Bertie Botts and Frankie—were transferred to SeaWorld San Antonio. They were shipped in temperature‑controlled transport units that kept the water at the whales’ natural cold‑water range.

The move was coordinated over months, during which veterinary teams from Canada, the US and marine‑science experts screened each animal. Marine‑mammal vets accompanied them during the journey, and expert monitors are now checking the whales’ health as they acclimate.

The relocation shines a light on the challenges of keeping large marine mammals in captivity, especially when capacity or funding constraints arise. By disbursing the whales into new facilities, the program hopes to give every animal a safe, enriched environment.