A dolphin that was relocated from Marineland to Spain has passed away, marking the fifth death of animals from the now-closed attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The deceased dolphin, named Echo, was a blind Black Sea bottlenose dolphin believed to be around 30 years old. Echo experienced difficulties with swallowing and breathing before being transferred to the medical pool, where her condition deteriorated rapidly. Despite the efforts of Oceanogràfic’s animal care and veterinary teams, Echo did not survive.
Echo, along with three other dolphins and two belugas, were transported to Oceanogràfic on a long journey that lasted 19 hours from the closed Niagara Falls facility. One of the belugas, Jelly Bean, had also recently passed away at the same location. Oceanogràfic is conducting necropsies on Echo and Jelly Bean to determine the cause of their deaths.
Although the other four animals that were transported from Canada are reportedly in good health and are being closely monitored by Oceanogràfic’s professional teams, Echo’s death has deeply impacted the staff who were dedicated to her care due to her specific needs.
Since Marineland sent out 30 belugas and four dolphins to different facilities over the summer, a total of four belugas and one dolphin have now died. The move of the marine mammals was initiated after Marineland faced financial challenges and expressed concerns about its ability to care for the animals. The transfer of the whales and dolphins began in July and concluded in August with the help of American and Spanish aquariums.
Investigations are ongoing at both Shedd Aquarium and Oceanogràfic to determine the causes of the animals’ deaths. Prior to the relocation, veterinarians from all involved parks examined and cleared the animals for transport, with the approval of Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson. Thompson had rejected a deal with a Chinese aquarium, citing concerns about the welfare of the animals due to differences in animal welfare laws between Canada and China.