The killer whale known as Ikaika at the centre of a court case recently between Marineland, Canada and SeaWorld US, has been removed from the Niagara Falls park with police hired on special duty to assist with the transfer of the whale.

SeaWorld loaned the whale to Marineland in 2006 in exchange for four beluga whales but last year SeaWorld started legal action to have Ikaika returned.

In September, an Ontario Court of Appeal panel rejected Marineland's claim that the whale should stay in its facility which currently houses one other orca. Previous details included on our Latest News page article dated 2 October.