Overview
- A specialized team moved six belugas from Marineland on Wednesday, using cranes, custom slings and a police-escorted convoy to Toronto Pearson before flying two whales to Georgia Aquarium and four to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
- Shedd received four more rescued belugas on Aug. 13, bringing the number of Marineland whales now at Shedd to eight and its planned intake to as many as 10 animals.
- The transfers are part of a government‑approved arrangement that replaced a blocked sale to a Chinese aquarium after Marineland warned it might euthanize the animals if permanent homes or funding were not found.
- Operations are being run in stages with continuous veterinary checks, export permits and foreign approvals required for further moves including planned transfers to Spain, and officials say individual health or weather could delay shipments.
- Receiving institutions and Marineland are covering much of the multi‑million dollar cost and say the whales will remain off public display while staff monitor feeding, social behavior and medical tests as they acclimate.