A dolphin that was relocated from Marineland has passed away in Spain, marking the fifth death of animals from the now-shut Niagara Falls, Ont., tourist spot following a significant transfer of whales and dolphins during the summer.
Echo, a blind Black Sea bottlenose dolphin estimated to be around 30 years old, died at Oceanogràfic de València on Wednesday. The marine facility reported that Echo began encountering difficulties with swallowing and breathing, leading to her transfer to the medical pool. Despite the efforts of Oceanografic’s animal care and veterinary teams, her health rapidly deteriorated, resulting in her passing overnight.
Echo, together with other dolphins and belugas, was transported to Oceanogràfic on a 19-hour journey from the closed Niagara Falls attraction on August 26. The facility is currently conducting necropsies on the deceased animals, along with assessments by pathology experts at CEU Cardenal Herrera University, to determine the cause of death.
The remaining four animals that were rescued from Canada are reported to be in good health and are being closely monitored by Oceanogràfic’s professional teams. The loss of Echo has hit the Oceanogràfic team hard, as they had been providing specialized care for her since her arrival due to her specific needs.
Since the transfer of 30 belugas and four dolphins from Marineland to various parks over the summer, a total of four belugas and one dolphin have now passed away. Three belugas died at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, in addition to one of the resident belugas at the park.
Marineland, which closed in 2024 due to financial constraints, faced the prospect of euthanizing its whales if they were not relocated. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson rejected a deal with Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, citing concerns for the welfare of the whales. The move of the marine mammals from Marineland to American and Spanish aquariums started in mid-July and concluded by the end of August.
Investigations into the cause of the animals’ deaths are ongoing at both Shedd and Oceanogràfic. Prior to the relocation, veterinarians from all parks conducted health assessments on the animals at Marineland, and Thompson approved the transfers after reviewing updated health information.