SeaWorld San Antonio has completed the second phase of a historic beluga whale rescue, welcoming seven female whales following an extensive journey from Ontario, Canada. The animals traveled approximately 2,000 miles as part of a broader international initiative to relocate 30 belugas from a closed marine facility no longer capable of providing proper care.
The recent arrivals join two male belugas who reached the San Antonio facility on July 21, 2026. Combined, these transports constitute what experts describe as an unprecedented relocation of captive cetaceans by any American zoo or aquarium in terms of scale and complexity.
The seven females—identified as Xena, Gemini, Skyla, Meeka, Eve, Neva, and Calypso—were selected to travel together as a social group. These whales currently reside in a non-public habitat where animal care specialists are monitoring their adjustment period without visitor interference.
"Given this is the largest number of belugas being moved at one time, we are so happy that all went well and the second transport of this huge rescue effort is complete," Steve Aibel, Vice President of Animals and Conservation for SeaWorld San Antonio, told Good News Network. Aibel accompanied both transport operations.
"All seven female belugas are now at SeaWorld San Antonio. They are receiving veterinary care, nutrition and attention as they acclimate to their new environment," Aibel told Good News Network.
Staff members are allowing each whale to adapt at her individual pace while observing feeding patterns, rest behaviors, and social interactions with both each other and their surroundings. The two male belugas from the earlier transport, Frankie and Bertie Botts, are progressing well in their transition and gradually being introduced to the existing beluga population at the facility.
The transportation process required specialized equipment and constant veterinary oversight. Whales traveled in custom water containers with round-the-clock medical supervision throughout the journey. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums coordinated the relocation effort in partnership with SeaWorld.
"Moving animals like beluga whales, even under the best of circumstances, is challenging," Dan Ashe, who serves as president and chief executive officer of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, told CBS News Chicago.
The broader rescue operation also included four female belugas transported to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium on July 22, 2026, via Qatar Airways Boeing 777 cargo aircraft. Those animals now reside at the Abbott Oceanarium complex.
SeaWorld has maintained beluga whale programs for more than 40 years, developing specialized knowledge in veterinary medicine, behavioral research, and emergency response protocols. The organization operates one of the nation's most extensive marine animal rescue programs, having provided assistance to more than 43,000 animals throughout its operational history.