Another beluga whale has died at Marineland, marking the fourth death in the past year and adding to a total of 16 belugas and one killer whale that have died at the facility since 2019. The park in Niagara Falls, Ontario is the only place in the country that still holds whales in captivity. In response to these deaths, the Ontario Animal Welfare Services launched an investigation in 2020. In 2021, the province declared all marine mammals at Marineland in distress due to poor water quality, prompting an order for the park to address the issue. The park initially appealed the order but later dropped the appeal.
The current status of the provincial probe into Marineland is unclear, with limited information available on the actions being taken by Ontario. Despite conducting over 200 inspections at the park, little is known about the specific findings or any resulting orders or charges issued by Animal Welfare Services. This lack of transparency has raised concerns among opposition politicians and animal welfare advocates, calling for more openness and accountability from the province. Local members of parliament, including representatives from the New Democratic Party and the Ontario Liberal Party, are urging the solicitor general to provide more information on the investigations and discuss ways to ensure the protection of the animals.
Marineland has defended its treatment of animals, claiming to prioritize their health and well-being. However, the ongoing deaths of whales and penguins at the park have raised questions about the adequacy of these measures. Following the latest beluga death in July and subsequent fatalities of two Magellanic penguins in August, inquiries into the cause of death were directed back to Marineland. Efforts to learn more about the park through freedom-of-information requests have faced challenges, with exemptions cited that prevent access to inspection reports and other relevant documents.
In the wake of the recent beluga death, significant attention has been drawn to Marineland’s practices and the welfare of its animals. The park’s owner, Marie Holer, passed away recently, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the facility’s future. Marineland is currently up for sale, leaving questions about the fate of the animals that reside there. The limited opening of the park this year and restrictions on certain animals’ displays have further fueled concerns about their well-being. Advocacy groups such as UrgentSeas have called for more thorough investigations into animal deaths and better oversight of the facility.
While Marineland has banned some journalists and faced challenges in accessing information through freedom-of-information requests, questions about the park’s operation and animal welfare remain. The lack of transparency from both the park and the provincial government has led to calls for greater accountability and action to protect the well-being of the animals. The ongoing probe into Marineland and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of multiple belugas and penguins highlight the need for more oversight, transparency, and public awareness of the treatment of animals in captivity. Efforts to address these issues and ensure the protection of marine mammals at Marineland must involve collaboration between various stakeholders including government officials, animal welfare advocates, and the public.
