The first beluga whales from Marineland arrive in Texas as international rescue efforts continue

Two beluga whales settled in their new home – a 2-million-gallon saltwater lake – in Texas on Tuesday following an international migration from a closed Canadian theme park.

The whales, named Bertie Bott and Frankie, traveled more than 1,500 kilometers from Niagara Falls, Ontario, to SeaWorld San Antonio. The same trip also brought more four belugas go to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

The move was the culmination of nearly two years of international efforts, bringing six of the 28 whales expected to enter waters across the United States.

“I can’t help but get a big smile talking about them,” Steve Aible, SeaWorld San Antonio’s vice president of zoological operations, told CBS News as he stood in front of the pool that temporarily houses 1,200 animals.

Aible was one of 10 keepers who joined the whales on a trip from Marineland that included a ride on flat-bed trucks and a cargo plane.

“Who would have thought that you had the chance to fly with a whale?” Aible said he remembers thinking while he was in the air.

Veterinarians specializing in marine mammal medicine and animal care were also on hand to monitor the belugas’ conditions throughout the trip.

Marineland closed to the public in 2024 but still owns the animals, saying it does not have the resources to continue caring for them. Almost a year after it closed, the park said it had no choice but to do it euthanized whales if the relocation program or additional funding is not secured.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued relocation permits in July to ensure the belugas receive treatment and care not otherwise available, saying “there are no other facilities in Canada capable of providing the whales with medical care.”

In San Antonio, Bertie and Frankie exceed their caregivers’ expectations by exhibiting engaging behaviors and maintaining a strong appetite.

“They’re going to have a dynamic and exciting environment here,” Aible said of the two whales. “Not because Marineland did anything wrong or bad, but because Marineland had ceased to function as a functioning theme park and was not.”

The keepers will continue to check the intact stock before introducing them to the 8 belugas that live in the reserve.

Another 11 whales from Marineland will arrive at SeaWorld San Antonio, according to the park. The remaining whales will travel to aquariums in Georgia, Chicago, San Diego and Spain.

“Tens of thousands of people … will be able to enjoy these animals,” Aible said. “And we can’t wait to share them with everyone who walks through our doors.”