Canadian Marine Park Threatens to Murder 30 Captive Whales

A marine park in Canada hoped to sell its last 30 beluga whales to an aquarium in China, but the deal was kiboshed by the fisheries minister. So Marineland, a near-bankrupt tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, is threatening to euthanize the whales if the government doesn’t cover some of the cost of their care.

Marineland had planned to send the whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, China, but fisheries minister Joanne Thompson denied the export permit, saying in a letter sent to Marineland that she “could not in good conscience approve an export that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured,” adding, “to approve the request would have meant a continued life in captivity and a return to public entertainment.”

When Marineland tried to ransom the whales’ lives for cash, Thompson shot that down as well. “The fact that Marineland has not planned for a viable alternative despite raising these whales in captivity for many years, does not place the onus on the Canadian government to cover your expenses.”

Marineland closed in 2024 after years of declining attendance and allegations of animal abuse. Animal-welfare legislation enacted in 2019 – the so-called “Free Willy” Law – banned breeding whales and dolphins in captivity and prohibited their use for entertainment. 

The park has been winding down its operations in recent months, but has yet to make suitable arrangements for its 30 whales. Setting them free is not an option, as they do not have survival skills to last in the open ocean. A proposal to build a whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia is under discussion but is far from operational.

A coalition of animal-welfare groups – including the Toronto Zoo – are calling on the Ontario provincial government to formally seize the whales and care for them until a sanctuary is ready to take them in. The province can recoup the costs from Marineland, when the bankrupt amusement park eventually sells its remaining assets. This sounds like the best solution for a bad situation.

Photo credit: premier.gov.ru