SeaWorld San Antonio welcomes 7 rescued beluga whales in record international relocation
San Antonio: SeaWorld San Antonio has welcomed seven rescued female beluga whales following a nearly 2,000-mile journey from Canada, completing the second phase of an unprecedented international rescue effort.
The whales — Xena, Gemini, Skyla, Meeka, Eve, Neva, and Calypso — were transported together as a sub-pod from a closed marine park in Ontario that can no longer support their care. They arrived after traveling in specialized water containers with 24-hour veterinary supervision.
They join two male belugas, Frankie and Bertie Botts, who arrived on July 21 as part of the first transport. Together, the nine whales set a national record for the largest movement of captive cetaceans ever undertaken by a U.S. zoo or aquarium.
“Given this is the largest number of belugas being moved at one time, we are so happy that all went well and the second transport of this huge rescue effort is complete,” said Steve Aibel, Vice President of Animals and Conservation for SeaWorld San Antonio, who accompanied both transports.
“All seven female belugas are now at SeaWorld San Antonio. They are receiving veterinary care, nutrition and attention as they acclimate to their new environment.”
The effort is part of a larger plan to relocate 30 belugas from the closed Canadian facility. Earlier this month, four female belugas from the same park were flown to Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium aboard a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 cargo aircraft.“Moving animals like beluga whales, even under the best of circumstances, is challenging,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which organized the move in partnership with SeaWorld.
The seven females are currently housed in a private habitat away from public view while staff monitor their transition. Caretakers are watching to ensure each whale is eating, resting, and beginning to interact with one another and their new surroundings.
Frankie and Bertie Botts are also doing well and are being gradually socialized with SeaWorld’s existing belugas.
SeaWorld said it has more than 40 years of experience caring for belugas and runs one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the U.S., having assisted more than 43,000 animals in its history.
