In brief
Six beluga whales – Sierra, Acadia, Osiris, Lillooet, Bertie Bots and Frankie – have been transferred from Marineland Canada’s closed facility to U.S. aquariums. The move, undertaken by specialized cold‑water containers and marine mammal veterinarians, is the first phase of a broader international relocation of a 30‑member pod. After months of veterinary checks and rigorous planning, the whales are settling into Chicago’s marine park and SeaWorld San‑Antonio while teams monitor their health and adaptation.
Belugas Arrive in the US After Canadian Park Closure
Six beluga whales – Sierra, Acadia, Osiris, Lillooet, Bertie Bots and Frankie – have arrived at U.S. aquariums after the Canadian marine park that housed them shut its doors. The whales are part of a larger pod of 30 belugas that must be relocated as Marineland Canada can no longer provide suitable care.
Three of the whales, Sierra, Acadia, Osiris and Lillooet, were transferred to a Chicago facility; the other two, Bertie Bots and Frankie, went to SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas. Transports used heavily insulated containers that maintain cold‑water temperatures, and the whales were accompanied by marine mammal veterinarians throughout both truck and plane journeys.
This move is the opening phase of an unprecedented international relocation effort. After extensive veterinary checks and months of planning, specialists will continue to monitor the animals as they acclimate to their new homes.
