Two beluga whales and four dolphins rescued from a closed Canadian marine park have arrived safely at Oceanogràfic Valencia after an international operation to prevent their euthanasia.
The Oceanogràfic in Valencia has welcomed six cetaceans rescued from Marineland in Ontario, Canada, in what has been described as a complex international operation aimed at securing a future for animals that had faced the threat of euthanasia.
The newcomers include two female beluga whales, Cleopatra and Jelly Bean, together with four female dolphins named Tsunami, Lida, Echo and Marina. All six arrived in Valencia early Thursday following a specially organised seven-hour flight from Toronto.
Their journey marks the latest stage of a major rescue programme involving the relocation of animals from Marineland, which closed to the public in 2024. The park had been home to around 30 belugas and four dolphins, leaving authorities and animal-care organisations with the difficult question of where the cetaceans could safely go.
Canada ultimately approved their transfer to accredited facilities rather than allowing them to be euthanised. Canadian government documents described the situation starkly: at the time, the alternatives were effectively export or death.
Oceanogràfic Valencia is the only European aquarium participating in the international rescue operation. Its veterinary and animal-care teams travelled to Canada months before the transfer to assess the health of the animals and determine which individuals could safely undertake the demanding journey.
The six animals were accompanied throughout the operation by specialist veterinary and animal-care teams. Their journey involved transportation from Marineland to the Canadian airport, a specially chartered aircraft and then a further road journey to Valencia.
For now, the new arrivals will remain away from public view while they settle into their new surroundings. Their behaviour and health will be closely monitored before any decision is made about introducing them to the other animals at the Oceanogràfic.
The arrival of Cleopatra and Jelly Bean also means that the Oceanogràfic now has six belugas. The centre already cares for Yulka and her son Kylu, as well as Plombir and Miranda, two belugas rescued from Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 2024.
The rescue is another significant chapter in the Oceanogràfic's experience of caring for cetaceans whose futures have been threatened by circumstances beyond their control.
For the six animals arriving from Canada, however, the immediate priority is much simpler: settling into their new home, receiving specialist care and beginning a new chapter in Valencia.
