A Canadian amusement park, Marineland, has sparked significant controversy by threatening to euthanize 30 beluga whales following the government’s refusal to allow their transfer to a theme park in China. This alarming situation comes after years of scrutiny regarding the park’s animal welfare practices and ongoing financial difficulties.
Marineland, located in Ontario, had aimed to relocate the cetaceans to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, a facility that the park hoped would provide a better environment for the whales. However, the Canadian government intervened last week, denying the export request due to concerns that the animals might encounter similar substandard conditions as a form of “public entertainment.” The Fisheries Minister, Joanne Thompson, labeled the request as inappropriate, particularly in light of the strengthened fisheries legislation enacted in 2019, which prohibits the use of whales and dolphins for entertainment purposes.
Challenges in securing funding and care
In light of the government’s decision, Marineland sought federal funding to continue providing for the belugas but was met with rejection. The park indicated that it might have to resort to euthanizing the whales, citing this as a “direct consequence of the minister’s decision.” The park has claimed it is in a “critical financial state,” unable to deliver adequate care for the animals after having closed its doors over the summer to remove remaining wildlife.
Despite the dire circumstances, Minister Thompson stated that the park’s inability to secure a viable alternative home for the belugas did not obligate the government to finance their care. Marineland’s plight has become increasingly precarious, with reports indicating that the park is facing a severe drop in visitor numbers, exacerbating its financial woes.
Public backlash and calls for action
The situation has drawn the ire of animal welfare advocates who are outraged at the possibility of euthanizing the whales. Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, an animal rights organization in Canada, emphasized that Marineland has a moral obligation to ensure the well-being of these animals, stating that threats to euthanize them are “reprehensible.” Meanwhile, World Animal Protection is urging the provincial government to intervene, insisting that it must take leadership to ensure that these belugas receive the highest possible standard of care.
“I could not in good conscience approve an export that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured,” said Thompson. “To approve the request would have meant a continued life in captivity and a return to public entertainment.”
Marineland’s history of animal welfare violations became a focal point of concern beginning in 2020, when investigations revealed that 12 whales had died over just two years. The park’s marine life was found to be in distress, and the death toll has since risen, with reports indicating that a fifth beluga whale perished in November alone, bringing the total number of deceased whales since 2019 to 20.
As the park grapples with its future, the fate of the beluga whales hangs in the balance, prompting urgent calls from animal welfare organizations for immediate action to safeguard these marine animals from potential euthanasia.