Two sea lions, Holly and Maui, have been relocated from Marineland to the Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium announced that the 18-year-old sea lions are adjusting to their new environment and are currently housed in a separate pool as they acclimate before meeting Señor Cinco, the resident male sea lion.
The move of Holly and Maui is part of a coordinated effort by Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums to secure long-term homes for animals previously housed at Marineland, which is now closed. The shuttered amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ont., is in the process of relocating its animals, including belugas, dolphins, seals, bears, and deer. The exact number of remaining sea lions at Marineland following Holly’s and Maui’s relocation is uncertain.
Mackenzie Neale, the director of animal care at Vancouver Aquarium, highlighted that Holly and Maui are considered mature animals, emphasizing the importance of supporting their long-term health and quality of life. The aquarium’s team is dedicated to providing daily enrichment activities and personalized wellness plans to nurture the natural behaviors of these social species.
Vancouver Aquarium, known for rescuing over 150 marine animals annually with a remarkable 80% released back into the wild, offers a lifelong home to those that cannot be returned to their natural habitat. Marineland has not provided information about recent animal relocations or the current population of animals remaining on-site.
Concerns have been raised about the welfare of animals at Marineland, with reports indicating that twenty whales have died at the park since 2019. The park, situated near the Horseshoe Falls, ceased public operations in 2024 and has been seeking authorization to export its whales to other facilities or face the possibility of euthanasia.
The costly upkeep of caring for 30 beluga whales at Marineland, estimated at $2 million per month, has prompted discussions about transitioning the park to non-animal-based attractions, as relayed by Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati. Conditional approval has been granted by Ottawa for the export of Marineland’s belugas and dolphins to select U.S. aquariums, including Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, and a SeaWorld location.