The Niagara Falls attraction has threatened to euthanize 30 beluga whales if Canada’s federal government does not provide economic assistance for the struggling amusement park. This grave warning follows the recent decision by the federal minister to block the export of the marine mammals to a aquatic park in China.
Marineland, an entertainment venue that includes a zoo, aquarium and forest, has endured increasing scrutiny over claims that the animals are kept in poor conditions. The once-popular park, which remained closed for the summer season, is winding down its operations ahead of a potential sale. Earlier this year, legal representatives for the park stated intentions to quickly relocate the remaining animals from the property.
The fate of the park’s beluga whales has long been a urgent concern for activists who contend the whales ought to be transferred to a sanctuary—though few viable options are available. Records gathered by Canadian Press indicate that 19 belugas and one orca have perished at the park since 2019.
“Granting the application would have meant a continued life in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” the minister added.
In an October 3rd letter, Marineland alerted that the debt-ridden park is in a “precarious economic condition” and does not have the resources to “provide adequate care for the whales.” The park management declared that if the national authorities cannot fund the park or permit the whales’ export by October 7th, Marineland will “face the devastating decision” of putting down one of the world’s largest groups of confined cetaceans.
“The gravity of the funding crisis at Marineland is extreme; any further delay jeopardizes the welfare and security of the whales, and we fear we are running out of time to act,” the document states.
The provincial leader, Doug Ford, said the region will “do whatever it takes” to give the surviving animals the “optimal living conditions,” noting the condition of the park was “extremely dire.”
According to regional legislation, Ontario has the power to seize the whales to protect their welfare—recouping any costs incurred when the park is sold.
“Marineland has operated for years earning revenue from keeping whales in miserable tanks, and is now sitting on vast amounts of valuable real estate in Niagara Falls. Marineland has a moral obligation to finance the future care of these animals,” Camille Labchuk, lawyer and executive director of an advocacy group, commented in a statement.
“The situation didn’t appear suddenly,” Labchuk added. “It’s the product of long-term disregard and cruelty. Marineland’s attempt to pressure the government into changing its stance, even implying it may kill the whales, is reprehensible.”
Marineland earlier asserted the whales “receive superior healthcare and around-the-clock attention than any person in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else,” and that the park, which was inspected “numerous” of times a year, had experts who “care for the animals when they are sick and every effort to save them is made.”
The park also said that for decades, “advocacy groups have attempted to link any creature’s demise with alleged ‘abuse’ by the park caring for the animals” which was “effective as propaganda” for those groups to fundraise.
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