A shocking standoff is unfolding in Niagara Falls, Canada, where Marineland—a combined zoo, aquarium, and amusement park—has warned it may be forced to euthanize 30 beluga whales unless the government steps in.
The embattled park, long dogged by controversy over animal welfare, told federal officials it’s out of money and can no longer care for its whales. In an October 3 letter to Canada’s fisheries minister Joanne Thompson, Marineland said it would face the “devastating decision of euthanasia” if the government doesn’t approve the whales’ export or provide emergency funding by October 7.
Marineland had previously tried to send the belugas to China, but Thompson blocked the move, citing Canada’s 2019 law banning the use of whales and dolphins for entertainment. “To approve the request would have meant a continued life in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” she said.
The park’s financial collapse follows years of public outrage and animal deaths—20 whales, including 19 belugas and one orca, have died there since 2019. Marineland’s treatment of black bears and marine mammals has also sparked numerous investigations and protests.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is now publicly urging Ottawa to sign off on the plan, calling the situation “absolutely terrible” and pressing the federal government to act before it’s too late.
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Canada, no surprise. Their total contribution to the world always woefully lacks. All hat, no cowboy!
If that Marineland Park has had issues with animal abuse, why hasn’t any Animal Rights Group gone there and demand Marineland fix what they are doing?? This is disgusting!! And now the Govt is ignoring that the Beluga Whales could be slaughtered???
What has happened to “DOING THE RIGHT THING AND RELEASING THOSE WHALES INTO THE OCEAN WHERE THEY BELONG?”
I used to think Humans were Smart! They definitely are NOT smarter in this case! What kind of EVIL people work at that Marineland?
HEY DUDES: let’s not play with those whale’s lives, but just release them back into the ocean! Why? BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!!
Are they serious? There must be other options!