A Marine Park in Canada Warns That It May Euthanize 30 Beluga Whales
By Vjosa Isai, New York Times
Editor's Note: Marineland, Canada, has repeatedly refused to work with environmentalists concerned with the welfare of the company's remaining 30 beluga whales. Efforts to gain access to the belugas by outside experts and proposals for relocating the belugas to seaside sanctuaries have been rebuffed.
Now, Marineland says, unless they get funding from the Canadian government, they will euthanize the belugas!
The New York Times has an update:
A Canadian marine park that closed last year wants to send its remaining 30 beluga whales to an aquarium in China. But Canada’s fisheries minister refused to issue an export permit because the animals would continue living in captivity.
Now, Marineland, a once popular tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario, that says it is on the brink of bankruptcy, has threatened to euthanize the whales.
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The park closed to the public in 2024, after years of declining attendance and accusations of animal abuse. Its operations were also hobbled by an animal protection law that Canada enacted in 2019 banning the breeding of captive whales and dolphins or their use for entertainment.
The legislation became known as the “Free Willy” bill, after the 1993 movie.
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In recent years, 19 beluga whales and one killer whale have died at Marineland, according to data compiled by The Canadian Press. The news media outlet said that the park is still home to four dolphins and a few seals, sea lions and bears.
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Chris Bittle, a member of Parliament who represents a district near Niagara Falls, said, “Marineland’s position of ‘give us money or the whales get it’ is yet another example of their failure to take responsibility for years of mismanagement.”
What You Can Do:
Send a polite email to the Canadian government, thanking them for blocking the transfer of the belugas to a Chinese marine park. Urge the government to take charge of the belugas, send in an outside team of experts to evaluate their health, and work with the Whale Sanctuary Project to establish a new sanctuary in Nova Scotia.
The Honourable Joanne Thompson
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Minister's office
200 Kent St
Station 15N100
Ottawa ON K1A 0E6
Email: DFO.Minister-Ministre.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Thank you for being so supportive of the Canadian belugas!
