Cyprus, a beluga whale rescued from Niagara Falls’ Marineland, has died at SeaWorld San Diego less than two months after being relocated, adding to the growing number of deaths among animals transferred from the now-closed marine park.
The nine-year-old male beluga died on Oct. 18, and according to SeaWorld, the death was unexpected.
Cyprus arrived at the facility on Aug. 22 alongside two other male belugas, Jasper and Xavier, as part of an international effort to relocate animals from the now-closed Marineland.
The whale had been eating consistently and was adjusting to his new environment when his health began to deteriorate.
SeaWorld San Diego took to Instagram to express their sadness at the loss of Cyprus, posting that “Like many species, belugas can mask discomfort or underlying concerns that are not immediately visible.”
Their team understood that health issues can arise during animal transfers. The team confirmed that the other belugas in their care remain in stable condition and will continue to be closely monitored.
An ultrasound showed that his intestinal tract was not functioning normally, potentially indicating a serious, life-threatening condition. SeaWorld included in their post that a full necropsy would be conducted, with the results shared with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This is now the sixth beluga to die in less than two months, after 30 whales were received from the Niagara park while in a “dire situation.”
The deaths have renewed questions about the health of the animals before their relocation and the challenges associated with moving them to new facilities.
In an interview with CBC News, Dr. Doug Whiteside, the head veterinarian at the Calgary Zoo and a member of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s animal welfare committee, described the condition of these animals at Marineland prior to transport.
“This was, I would say, almost kind of a Hail Mary effort in terms of trying to make sure that we could provide a better life for these whales,” said Whiteside.
According to Whiteside, the animals were under chronic stress, and transferring was always going to be a risk.
The belugas relocated from Marineland that have died consist of four at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, while another, Jelly Bean, died at Oceanogràfic València in Spain. A bottlenose dolphin named Echo also passed following relocation to the Spanish facility.
In October, Shedd Aquarium released findings from necropsies conducted on two of its deceased belugas, Peekachu and Rain. The examinations identified chronic inflammatory disease and other health concerns that appeared to have existed before the whales arrived at the aquarium. Peekachu’s examination also found foreign objects, including bird feathers, sticks and rocks in her stomach.
The findings have heightened concerns about the animals’ health before the transfers. However, the circumstances surrounding each death differ, and Cyprus’s cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Niagara Falls’ Marineland had been at the centre of animal welfare concerns for many years before its closure. The park, which opened in 1961, was once one of Canada’s most popular tourist attractions, featuring marine mammals, amusement rides and other animal exhibits.
Concerns for animal welfare and living conditions only intensified during the years of the park’s operation. In 2021, Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services declared the marine mammals at Marineland to be in distress because of poor water quality and ordered the facility to address the issue. The park also faced years of scrutiny over animal deaths and its treatment of captive animals.
After years of financial difficulties and mounting pressure, Marineland closed to the public in 2025. The park subsequently warned the federal government that it could no longer afford to care for its remaining marine mammals, raising the possibility that the animals could be euthanized if a relocation plan could not be arranged, according to federal government documents.
An initial proposal to send the animals to an aquarium in China was rejected by the federal government over concerns about the facility’s breeding and entertainment practices. In May 2026, the federal government endorsed an alternative plan involving accredited aquariums in the United States and Spain.
The animals were distributed among five facilities, including Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, two SeaWorld locations and Oceanogràfic València in Spain.
With the final transfers completed in August, questions remain about the long-term effects of their relocation and the challenges of caring for whales that spent years at Marineland.