PREVIEW

BY MARK WORGAN

Six beluga whales have embarked on an incredible journey across North America after being rescued from a closed Canadian marine park.

The airlifted cetaceans have arrived safely at aquariums in the United States, marking the first stage of a major international effort to rehome the animals.

The whales are among a pod of 30 belugas previously housed at Marineland of Canada, which has closed and is no longer able to provide for their long-term care.

Several aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) have joined the rescue operation because of their expertise in caring for the species and experience in marine mammal rescue.

Four female belugas have been relocated to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while two others have been transferred to SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas.

The whales travelled by road and air in specially designed, water-filled containers. Marine mammal veterinarians and animal care specialists accompanied them throughout the journey.

Although all six whales arrived safely, experts cautioned that transporting animals over such long distances carries risks and said it would take time to assess their overall health and condition.

"This moment marks the next chapter for these rescued belugas," said Dr. Karisa Tang, lead veterinarian and vice president of animal health at Shedd Aquarium. "Now that they are here, the full attention of our care and veterinary teams is on getting to know these whales and providing whatever supplemental support, care, treatment, nutrition and attention we can provide to help them acclimate to their new environment."

The four whales transferred to Chicago were deliberately moved together because of their established social bonds. Belugas are highly social animals, and keeping familiar groups together is considered important in reducing stress during transport and helping them settle into their new surroundings.

The whales are Acadia, aged 27, Osiris and Sierra, both 26, and Lillooet, aged 21.
At Shedd Aquarium, the animals are being cared for around the clock while they gradually become accustomed to their new habitat. They are not currently on public display.

"As with any of our animals, the best indicator of well-being is individual and social behaviour," said Charlie Jacobsma, director of animal behaviour and training at Shedd Aquarium. "We are watching closely for the rescued belugas to eat a full diet, socialize with one another, and investigate the habitat, which are encouraging signs of their progress. We are cautiously optimistic as we start to see some of those initial indicators, and our dedicated team will continue to monitor throughout this process to acclimatise the belugas to their new home, caretakers and pod."

Before the relocation, Canadian veterinarians assessed each whale to ensure it was fit to travel. Teams from the participating aquariums also visited Marineland to observe the animals, review medical records and help develop the rescue plan.

"The rescue started with the needs of the belugas," said Dr. Chris Dold, chief zoological officer at SeaWorld. "The plan was built, as much as possible, on understanding their overall health, social bonds and multiple other factors. Our plans naturally evolved as we learned more about the whales, and we will remain adaptive and responsive to the whales’ needs as we work to complete this unprecedented rescue."

Experts said the whales will continue to be closely monitored over the coming days and weeks, with carers looking for signs including feeding, exploring and social interaction.

"Seeing these first beluga whales arrive safely to their new homes is an important milestone, but it's not the finish line," said Steve Aibel, SeaWorld San Antonio’s vice president, animals and conservation, who accompanied the first transport. "Our team is laser focused on supporting each whale through this transition with individualized care, patience and observation to ensure their welfare. We're optimistic about what's ahead, while recognizing that every animal will adapt on its own timeline."

Additional belugas are expected to be relocated to Georgia Aquarium, SeaWorld San Diego and Oceanogràfic Valencia in Spain, subject to government approvals. Mystic Aquarium is supporting the operation by providing expertise and additional capacity, although it is not receiving any of the rescued whales.

The rescue plan was developed after Marineland requested assistance, with support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. It also required authorisation from US and Canadian authorities.

"Helping animals in need is what we do - it’s in our nature," said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of AZA. "Time and time again, accredited zoos and aquariums step up to provide critical expertise, funding and sanctuary for animals in need. We could not be prouder of how our accredited member aquariums have risen to meet this moment and to welcome these rescued belugas into their care for a lifetime."

The participating aquariums said they would use lessons learned from the first relocation to inform future transfers. No timetable has been announced for moving the remaining whales, with organisers saying any further rescues will depend on the animals' needs.