Canada has endorsed a plan to export Marineland's remaining beluga whales and dolphins to an aquarium in Spain or one of four US attractions.
Marineland, the closed theme park and zoo in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been in talks with four US institutions to take its 30 beluga whales and four dolphins.
These are the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, SeaWorld San Diego in California, and SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas.
Marine mammals set for relocation
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, a federal department of the Canadian government, has now endorsed a rescue plan that involves relocating the animals to the above locations, as well as Oceanogrà fic València in Spain, CBC reports.
Johnny Ford, the Shedd Aquarium's vice president of communications, told the publication: "There is no definite timeline for the rescue."
Speaking on behalf of the collective of aquariums, he said they "are prepared to activate in a matter of weeks".
Canadian veterinarians will need to conduct medical examinations to ensure the cetaceans are well enough to travel.
Additionally, export permits from Canada and "the necessary import permits from the US and Spanish governments – a process we are engaged in now" are required before the transfer, Ford said.
Permits and health checks still needed
Approval of the export permits "will be issued closer to the date of transport, pending final animal health checks", said Erik Nosaluk, deputy director of communications at Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Marineland previously planned to send the animals to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, but Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson blocked the export permit.
The park later threatened to euthanise the animals if Canada's federal government did not provide financial support.
"Rescue logistics are being diligently planned by a collective with decades of experience safely moving belugas over long distances," Ford added.
