A dolphin named Echo died at the Valencia Aquarium in Spain. The Spanish aquarium reported that the animal had arrived with 'serious vision problems and other clinical history.' This event represents the latest loss among transferred animals.
This death follows other recent occurrences, including the deaths of three belugas relocated to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and another in Valencia, over the past few weeks.
The situation involving the transfer of approximately thirty belugas and dolphins from Marineland Canada park to aquariums in the United States and Spain generated significant controversy during the summer in Canada, as well as the subsequent recent deaths recorded.
Marineland, which closed its operations in 2024, was previously a profitable tourist attraction near Niagara Falls. The park's management alleged an inability to cover the maintenance costs of these animals and even threatened to euthanize them if suitable reception locations were not found.
Phil Demers, a former park trainer who became a whistleblower, told the French news agency AFP on Thursday that he is not 'surprised' by these deaths, which he attributes to the animals' 'poor conditions' of life at Marineland.
Demers accused that 'the animals were already sick before being transferred' and described the situation as a 'disaster,' expressing the expectation that there would be 'more deaths.'
Marineland has been the subject of controversy for several years. According to the Canadian press, there have been 20 animal deaths, including 19 belugas, between 2019 and 2025. Although the park has assured that these were 'natural deaths,' Ontario provincial animal protection services are conducting investigations into possible mistreatment.