Marineland Pursues US Export for Captive Beluga Whales
The future of thirty beluga whales held at Marineland, the now-closed Canadian amusement park and aquarium in Niagara Falls, hangs in the balance as the facility seeks government approval to sell the animals to institutions in the United States. This move comes after a previous proposal to export the whales to China was firmly rejected by authorities, sparking widespread concern and debate over animal welfare.
A History of Controversy and Animal Deaths
Marineland, which has been closed to visitors and is reportedly looking to sell its land, has faced intense scrutiny for years. According to a tally by the Canadian Press, a total of twenty animals, including nineteen belugas, have died at the park since 2019. The park has attributed all these deaths to natural causes, but animal welfare officials from Ontario have been conducting a five-year investigation into the facility's practices, raising serious questions about the conditions in which these marine mammals are kept.
Threats of Euthanasia and New Export Applications
Last year, Marineland shocked the public by stating that it was running out of resources to care for its whales and might have to euthanize them if no solution was found. This announcement followed the rejection of its application to sell the belugas to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park in China. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson rejected that proposal, stating it would have perpetuated the exploitation of the whales.
Now, Marineland has submitted new export permit applications to the Canadian government. Fisheries ministry spokesperson Ira Khedkar confirmed that park representatives met with officials recently, and the minister will review these applications expeditiously. While the ministry has not commented on the specifics of the latest proposal, it marks a significant shift in strategy for the beleaguered park.
Whistleblower Insights and US Destination Plans
Phil Demers, a former trainer at Marineland who has become a whistleblower, revealed that the park aims to sell the belugas to several institutions across the United States. The Canadian Press also reported that Marineland has prepared a euthanasia plan and intends to proceed with killing the whales if the US export proposal is denied. Marineland did not immediately respond to queries about this report, leaving many animal advocates deeply worried about the potential outcome.
The situation has been described as heartbreaking by observers, with the thirty captive beluga whales effectively becoming pawns in a larger row over animal cruelty and the ethics of keeping such intelligent creatures in captivity. As the government reviews the new applications, the fate of these whales remains uncertain, highlighting ongoing tensions between commercial interests and animal welfare standards in the entertainment industry.
