Two sea lions that were previously housed at Marineland have been relocated to the Vancouver Aquarium. Holly and Maui, both 18 years old, are currently adjusting to their new environment in a separate pool before they are introduced to Señor Cinco, the male sea lion already residing at the aquarium.
Their transfer to Vancouver is part of a coordinated effort by Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums to find permanent homes for animals that were once at Marineland. The amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, is in the process of moving its animals, including belugas, dolphins, seals, bears, and deer. It is uncertain if more sea lions remain at Marineland following the relocation of Holly and Maui.
Mackenzie Neale, the director of animal care at Vancouver Aquarium, emphasized the importance of supporting the long-term health and well-being of Holly and Maui, considering their advanced age. The aquarium staff will focus on encouraging the natural behaviors of these social animals through daily enrichment activities and personalized wellness plans.
Vancouver Aquarium, which rescues over 150 marine animals annually with a remarkable 80% success rate in returning them to the wild, provides a permanent home for animals that cannot be released back into their natural habitats.
Despite inquiries from CBC Hamilton, Marineland has not provided information on recent animal relocations or the remaining animal count at the facility. Drone footage captured by CBC News showed beluga whales being fed and deer roaming the Marineland property.
Reports indicate that twenty whales have died at Marineland since 2019, prompting the park’s closure to the public in 2024. Marineland has been seeking government approval to export its whales to other facilities to avoid euthanization due to the high cost of caring for 30 beluga whales, estimated at $2 million per month. The park aims to transition to animal-free attractions, as mentioned by Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati in an interview with CBC Hamilton.
Recently, Ottawa granted conditional approval for Marineland to send its belugas and dolphins to various U.S. aquariums, including Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, and a SeaWorld location.