Finding homes for whales and dolphins when parks like Marineland Canada close isn’t easy – a biologist explains why sea sanctuaries aren’t the answer

Sea sanctuaries could work well for some animals, but up to this point, only a handful of animals have lived in them.

By: Jason Bruck, Stephen F. Austin State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 23, 2026

Words: 1,634

Last Updated: 4 days, 10 hours ago

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By Jason Bruck, Stephen F. Austin State University

When Marineland Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, closed in September 2024, it had no regular income to support the care of the 30 belugas and four dolphins housed there. To ensure their welfare, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums led an international effort to relocate the animals to the United States and Spain.

After the move, however, one resident beluga and three transplanted belugas died …

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