#cetaceans

Working on a couple other cetaceans but I don't know if they have Tumblr so I will just link their artfight accounts when I'm done :}

Joint statements from SeaWorld, Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, and Mystic Aquarium released today (8 July 2026) confirm that the 30 belugas stranded at the shuttered Marineland Canada theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario will find new homes at 5 different AZA-accredited institutions.

28 of the whales will be divided amongst SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld San Antonio, Shedd Aquarium, and Georgia Aquarium. The remaining two will journey to L’Oceanogràfic in València, Spain, which famously rescued two belugas from an imperiled aquarium in Ukraine last year. Mystic Aquarium will aid in the transport but will not receive any belugas themselves. SeaWorld Orlando will also not be receiving whales at this time.

CITES permits have been issued for the American transfers, and NOAA has issued authorization for the US-based facilities to receive the whales. Final health clearances must be approved by Canadian veterinarians before transports can commence. Upon the departure of these whales, as well as four Black Sea dolphins also on site, no cetaceans will remain in human care in Canada.

Below is the official statement from the Honorable Joanne Thompson, the Canadian Minister of Fisheries.

This is amazing news. These animals, previously facing euthanasia, will find new homes at highly regulated facilities with the experience and resources to provide for them.

Godspeed, water marshmallows!

Resources: Social media statements were issued by SeaWorld, Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, and Mystic Aquarium. Additional information can be found on Shedd and Georgia's websites here, here, and here, as well as the video below.