This beluga rescue was anything but accidental.
The first whales relocated from a closed Canadian marine theme park have safely reached their new homes, marking the start of a major cross-border animal transfer.
Bertie Botts and Frankie, two beluga whales from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, made the journey by truck and aircraft before arriving at SeaWorld San Antonio, the Texas theme park said in a statement Tuesday.
Images from the move showed the massive white marine mammals being carefully lowered into their new pool habitats in oversized slings, their small flippers stretched out at their sides.
A team of aquatic medicine experts, veterinarians and animal care specialists traveled with the so-called “sea canaries” throughout the international trip, at times getting into the water alongside them to help keep the whales calm and supported.
In all, six belugas were transported in the first phase of the relocation from the now-defunct marine park, with efforts underway to move all 30 whales.
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According to CBC, Sierra, Acadia, Osiris and Lilooet were transferred to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while Bertie Botts and Frankie headed to SeaWorld San Antonio.
“This was a herculean effort and one that will continue over the coming weeks,” SeaWorld San Antonio said 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.
