Beluga whales rescued after being trapped in closed down Canadian theme park

Sierra, Bertie Botts, Acadia and Frankie were among six whales rescued from the theme park

Credit: CBC

Six Beluga whales have been rescued from a closed down theme park in Canada.

The whales were rescued from Marineland, a theme park and zoo in Niagara Falls, which permanently shut in 2024.

The marine mammals were pictured being airlifted to safety as they prepare to embark on their journey to other aquariums.

They are the first group of at least 30 whales that will be evacuated.

Aquarium experts work to remove Bertie Botts the beluga whale out of the Marineland enclosure. / Credit: The Canadian Press

Beluga whales are one of the smallest whale species. However, they can grow up to 15 feet long and weigh up to 1,600kg, meaning they are not the easiest of animals to transport.

Cranes, hoists and dozens of staff from Marineland and US aquariums helped to carefully carry them out of their pool into individual water tanks, which were then loaded onto trucks.

CBC reports that The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) plans to send the whales to either Oceanogràfic València in Spain or Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium and two SeaWorld centres in the US.

Frankie the beluga whale was carefully airlifted into his transportation tank. / Credit: The Canadian Press

Marineland closed to the public in 2024, after CBC reported there had been multiple whale deaths at the park.

The animals were threatened with euthanasia after the government blocked them from being sent to China.

Now the belugas are being saved and shipped overseas to different aquariums.

Prior to its closure, Marineland had faced charges of animal cruelty of its other animals and in 2021 they were charged for using whales and dolphins for entertainment.

The park had been running for more than 60 years and housed Keiko the orca who starred in the hit 90s film Free Willy.

However, there was public backlash over the site’s animal welfare after a Toronto Star investigation in 2012 found evidence of poor water quality and animal neglect.