After months of uncertainty and a race against time, two belugas and four dolphins have found a new home at Valencia's Oceanogràfic.
For six marine mammals from Canada, a seven-hour flight across the Atlantic has marked the beginning of a completely new chapter.
Cleopatra and Jelly Bean, two female beluga whales, together with four dolphins—Tsunami, Lida, Echo and Marina—have arrived at the Oceanogràfic in Valencia after being rescued from Marineland in Ontario. Their transfer was part of an international effort to prevent the animals from being euthanised following the closure of the Canadian marine park.
The journey was anything but an ordinary relocation.
Months of preparation were required before the animals could leave Canada. Veterinary specialists assessed each cetacean individually, examining their health and determining whether they were fit enough to withstand the long and complicated journey.
The teams also had to consider the animals' social relationships. Belugas and dolphins are highly social species, and maintaining familiar companions and minimising stress were important considerations when deciding how the animals would be transported.
Eventually, the moment arrived. The six animals travelled by road from Marineland to Toronto before boarding a specially chartered aircraft bound for Spain. After about seven hours in the air, they landed in Valencia, where Oceanogràfic specialists waited to continue the operation.
Their arrival has been described as a rescue that ultimately saved their lives. The Canadian government had previously faced the difficult reality of finding somewhere for the remaining Marineland cetaceans to go, with official documents stating that, without suitable relocation options, the alternative was death.
Valencia was chosen as the destination for two of the belugas because the Oceanogràfic has considerable experience caring for the species. The aquarium also became involved in the rescue of two belugas from Ukraine in 2024, animals that had been living close to the conflict zone in Kharkiv.
The latest arrivals will not be placed on display immediately. Instead, they will remain in areas away from visitors while their caregivers monitor their health and behaviour and allow them time to adjust to their new environment.
Only when the animals are ready will the next stage begin: gradually introducing them to their new surroundings and, where appropriate, to other cetaceans.
The rescue has also reignited debate about what should happen to marine mammals when facilities housing them close. Animal-welfare organisations have argued for the development of marine sanctuaries as an alternative to transferring captive cetaceans between aquariums.
But for Cleopatra, Jelly Bean, Tsunami, Lida, Echo and Marina, the immediate story is one of survival.
After an uncertain future in Canada, they have arrived safely in Valencia—and, for now, they have been given something they desperately needed: time and a place to call home.
The Oceanogràfic in Valencia is much more than an aquarium: it is one of Europe’s leading marine centres and an international benchmark for marine research, conservation and education.
