Seven female beluga whales have arrived at SeaWorld San Antonio as part of a significant international relocation effort from Marineland in Canada. The group, named Xena, Gemini, Skyla, Meeka, Eve, Neva, and Calypso, represents the second transport from the Canadian facility and is the largest beluga transfer ever completed in the United States. The arrival occurred on August 5, 2026, at 8:11 PM EDT.
Steve Aibel, SeaWorld San Antonio's vice president of zoological operations, expressed his satisfaction with the successful transport. "We are so happy that all went well and the second transport of this huge rescue effort is complete," Aibel stated. He added that the whales are currently receiving veterinary care, nutrition, and attention as they adjust to their new environment. Aibel was among the caretakers who accompanied the animals, weighing over 1,200 pounds each, on their journey.
The relocation involved specialized, water-filled transport units, flatbed trucks, and a cargo plane for the nearly 2,000-mile trip from Niagara Falls to San Antonio. These seven whales join Frankie and Bertie Botts, two male belugas who made the same journey last month. Four other whales from that initial transport were moved to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
Marineland, which closed to the public in 2024, cited a lack of resources to continue caring for its animals. The park had previously indicated that euthanasia would be considered if a relocation plan or additional funding was not secured approximately a year after its closure. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued relocation approvals in July, acknowledging that no other facilities in Canada could provide the necessary husbandry or medical care for the belugas.
Seventeen beluga whales remain at Marineland and are slated for future transfers to aquariums in Georgia, Chicago, San Diego, and Spain, though a specific timeline for these moves has not yet been announced.
