Canadian beluga whales could move to the United States.

Canada has conditionally approved Marineland's application to export about 30 beluga whales to facilities in the United States pending more information, after rejecting an earlier proposal to send them to China; Marineland has said it plans to send four dolphins to the U.S. as well.

Marineland, a closed aquatic park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has applied to export about 30 beluga whales to facilities in the United States. The park previously sought permission to send the animals to a theme park in China, a request that was denied by Canada's fisheries minister. Marineland has been closed to the public since 2024 and is facing financial troubles and potential bankruptcy. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said she conditionally approved the new U.S.-bound application while awaiting additional information from Marineland. Key facts: - Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson has conditionally approved Marineland's new application to export about 30 beluga whales to facilities in the United States and said her decision was guided by the whales' best interest. - Marineland had earlier sought to export the whales to China and had threatened euthanasia after that request was turned down; the park is closed to the public and is managing financial and legal challenges. - The minister's office is awaiting more information from Marineland before issuing final permits, and officials have not disclosed where in the United States the whales would be sent. Summary: The conditional approval moves the animals toward potential transfer to U.S. facilities and reduces the immediate prospect of euthanasia as described by the park. Final approval depends on additional information Marineland must provide to Fisheries Canada, and the specific destinations and conditions remain undetermined at this time.