SeaWorld San Diego Welcomes Three Belugas From Closed Marineland

Overview

• Xavier, Cyprus and Jasper, three male belugas born at Marineland, arrived at SeaWorld San Diego after a roughly 2,500-mile transfer and are being closely monitored off public display.
• SeaWorld said the trio traveled together in specialized cold-water transport units with veterinarians and animal care teams and were flown to California on a Qatar Airways cargo plane.
• The move is the fourth staged transfer since July as accredited aquariums work to rehome animals from Marineland after its 2024 closure, and sources report multiple whales have already been placed.
• Care staff report early signs of positive health based on swimming, activity and eating, and officials say introductions to SeaWorld’s other belugas will wait until social and medical assessments are complete.
• The broader operation replaced a blocked overseas sale and aimed to avoid euthanasia by sharing costs and logistics across institutions, with further relocations still dependent on health checks, permits and weather.