SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Three beluga whales have a new home at SeaWorld San Diego after traveling more than 2,500 miles from Marineland, Canada — a marine park that closed in 2024.
Xavier, Cyprus and Jasper arrived Saturday morning and are currently adjusting to their new surroundings. Animal care specialists say the whales are showing positive early signs.
The trio are pod mates who lived together at Marineland Canada from birth. That social bond is why they made the journey together.
"These guys are pod mates, so they know each other very well, and they were actually living together up in Marineland, Canada, where they were born and where they've lived their whole life," Cindie Sweitzer, a zoological specialist with Wild Arctic at SeaWorld San Diego, said.
The whales traveled in specialized cold-water transport units, accompanied by veterinarians and animal care specialists. The operation involved staff from SeaWorld, Marineland Canada and other accredited aquariums around the world.
"They did an amazing job prepping these whales for their transport for a successful journey, and the information that they taught me is going to carry over to my teammates," Sweitzer said.
This is the fourth successful beluga transport since the rescue effort began in July. Twelve of the 16 whales expected to be relocated have now found new homes.
Zoological specialist Denise Higginbotham, who is working directly with the new arrivals, says there is still a long road ahead.
"We have a long road ahead, and part of that is just getting them acclimated and comfortable as much as we are going to be working with them and getting to know them... they are also going to be learning us," Higginbotham said.
Care teams are monitoring the whales' health, eating habits and behavior while giving them time to settle in.
"We are seeing really positive indicators of health, so I'm looking at their swimming. And their activity level," Higginbotham said.
Beluga whales are recognizable by their large, rounded foreheads — called melons — which are filled with fat and help direct the sound waves they produce for echolocation.
When Xavier, Cyprus and Jasper are ready, the gates to the adjoining pool will open, allowing them to begin meeting the other beluga whales already living at SeaWorld San Diego.
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