A dolphin that was transferred from Marineland has passed away in Spain, marking the fifth death among animals relocated from the now-closed tourist spot in Niagara Falls, Ontario, following a significant transfer of whales and dolphins during the summer.
Oceanogràfic de València confirmed the death of Echo, a blind Black Sea bottlenose dolphin believed to be around 30 years old, on Wednesday. The dolphin started experiencing difficulties with swallowing and breathing, leading to its transfer to the medical pool. Despite efforts from Oceanografic’s animal care and veterinary teams, Echo’s health deteriorated rapidly, and it passed away overnight.
Echo, along with three other dolphins and two belugas, was transported to Oceanogràfic on a 19-hour journey from the shuttered Niagara Falls location on August 26. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of death for both Echo and another animal through necropsies and examinations conducted by pathology experts.
The remaining four animals that were rescued from Canada are reported to be in good health and are being closely monitored by the professional teams at Oceanogràfic. The loss of Echo has been particularly challenging for the Oceanogràfic team, given the dedicated care provided to the dolphin since its arrival due to its specific needs.
Since the summer transfer of 30 belugas and four dolphins from Marineland to various parks, a total of four belugas and one dolphin have now died. Three belugas perished at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, along with one of the resident belugas.
Marineland closed in 2024 due to financial constraints, leading to the relocation of its marine mammals to other facilities. The Canadian government intervened to prevent a deal that would have sent the animals to China, citing concerns over animal welfare and differing laws regarding captivity. Laws in Canada banned whale and dolphin captivity in 2019 but made exceptions for existing facilities like Marineland.
In response to the closure, Marineland sought emergency funding and eventually collaborated with American and Spanish aquariums for the relocation of its marine animals. Both Shedd Aquarium and Oceanogràfic are conducting investigations to determine the causes of the recent animal deaths.
Prior to the transfers, veterinarians from all parks involved in the relocation process conducted health assessments on the animals to ensure their fitness for transport, with approval from the relevant authorities.