Seven beluga whales have safely arrived at SeaWorld San Antonio after a 2,000-mile journey from Marineland, marking the largest single beluga whale transfer ever completed in the United States.
The seven female whales departed Canada on August 3 after Marineland, which closed in 2024, announced it could no longer afford to care for its animals. Each whale, weighing more than 1,200 pounds, was carefully lifted into specially designed cold-water transport tanks before being flown aboard a Boeing 777 Freighter operated by Qatar Airways. Veterinarians and animal care specialists accompanied the whales throughout the journey to monitor their health.
The relocation is part of a larger rescue effort to move all 30 beluga whales from the former marine park by the end of August. The remaining whales will be transferred to accredited aquariums across the United States and Spain over the coming weeks.