Beluga whales from shuttered Canada theme park arrive at SeaWorld San Antonio

This rescue was no fluke.The first group of beluga whales rescued from a shuttered Canadian theme park has arrived safely at their new home in Texas.The belugas named Bertie Botts and Frankie, from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, traveled by truck and plane to reach their new abode at SeaWorld San Antonio, the theme park announced in a statement on Tuesday.

Photos captured the ginormous marine mammals with their adorable flippers flapping to the side as they were lowered into their new pool habitats in huge slings.Aquatic medicine specialists, veterinarians, and caretakers accompanied the majestic sea canaries on their international voyage, sometimes even joining them in the water.Six whales were moved during the first transfer from the defunct marine park — the beginning of relocation efforts for all 30 of the whales.

Sierra, Acadia, Osiris, and Lilooet were taken to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while belugas Bertie Botts and Frankie were taken to SeaWorld in San Antonio, CBC reported.“This was a herculean effort and one that will continue over the coming weeks,” SeaWorld San Antonio wrote in a Facebook post.

Bertie Botts and Frankie were relocated to SeaWorld San Antonio with the help of dedicated animal care professionals from Shedd Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, and Mystic Aquarium, officials said.Marineland closed after the death of the zoo’s owners, John Holer and Marie Holer, in 2024, according to CBC. Twenty whales had ended up dead at the park since 2019, according to data obtained by the Canadian Press. Though staff continued to care for the sea creatures, the whales’ fate was in the balance for some time.The park had said in October that it would be forced to euthanize the whales soon if a transfer wasn’t approved, the outlet reported.

Authorities in Canada eventually reached a deal with the US and Spain to move the whales to accredited facilities earlier last month....