A dolphin that was relocated from Marineland to Spain has passed away, marking the fifth death among animals transferred from the now-closed tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The deceased dolphin, named Echo, was a blind Black Sea bottlenose dolphin estimated to be around 30 years old. Echo developed swallowing and respiratory issues, leading to her transfer to a medical pool where her condition worsened rapidly, despite receiving care from Oceanogràfic de València’s animal care and veterinary teams.
Echo, along with three other dolphins and two belugas, was transported to Oceanogràfic on August 26 in a lengthy journey lasting 19 hours from the defunct Marineland in Niagara Falls. The organization is conducting necropsies on Echo and the other deceased beluga, Jelly Bean, to determine the cause of death with the assistance of pathology experts at CEU Cardenal Herrera University.
The remaining animals from Marineland are reportedly in good health and are being closely monitored by Oceanogràfic’s dedicated teams. The loss of Echo has deeply affected the Oceanogràfic staff, who had been providing specialized care for her due to her unique needs.
Since the summer relocation of 30 belugas and four dolphins from Marineland to various parks, a total of four belugas and one dolphin have now died. Among these deaths, three belugas passed away at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, along with one of the aquarium’s resident belugas. Investigations are ongoing at both Shedd and Oceanogràfic to determine the factors contributing to the animals’ deaths.
Marineland ceased operations in 2024 citing financial constraints and an inability to sustain their whale population. The park faced criticism for its handling of the animals, prompting concerns about their well-being. Despite initial plans to send the whales to China, the deal was canceled by Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, who cited inadequate animal protection laws in China. Instead, a collaborative effort involving American and Spanish aquariums facilitated the relocation of Marineland’s marine mammals to new facilities over the summer.
The veterinarians from the involved parks had cleared the animals for transport following thorough health assessments. Marineland had threatened to euthanize the whales if emergency funding was not secured, prompting international attention. Both Shedd and Oceanogràfic are dedicated to investigating the circumstances surrounding the animals’ deaths to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
