The fate of 30 beluga whales at Marineland, a now-closed marine park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, hangs in the balance as the park threatens euthanasia if the Canadian government doesn’t provide emergency funding. Marineland shut its doors in 2024 following years of declining attendance and allegations of animal mistreatment.
The park had hoped to transfer the whales to a sea life center in China, but Canada’s Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson blocked the export permit, citing concerns that the whales would continue living in captivity, which she refused to endorse. Thompson stated she “could not in good conscience approve an export that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured.”
With no government support forthcoming, Marineland demanded funds to care for the whales and set a firm deadline of October 7 for a permit, warning that failure to act would force them to euthanize the animals. Since 2019, 20 whales, including 19 belugas and one orca, have died at Marineland.
Animal rights groups condemn Marineland’s decades of profit-making from captive whales housed in poor conditions and call on the park to responsibly provide for the animals. Meanwhile, plans for a sanctuary in Nova Scotia offer hope for a safer future for some of the remaining whales.
