Marineland, the now-closed amusement park located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has informed the Canadian government of its intention to euthanize 30 captive belugas and four dolphins on-site unless granted permission to transport them to the United States. The park delegation met with Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson and provided export permits for the relocation of the marine creatures abroad.
During the meeting, Marineland set an “imminent” deadline for the approval of the permits, stating that they would proceed with their predetermined plan to euthanize the whales if the deadline passes without authorization. The park aims to send the belugas and dolphins to various U.S. facilities, including Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, and a SeaWorld site.
While CBC contacted all four American facilities, responses were received only from Georgia Aquarium and Mystic Aquarium, both of which provided similar statements without confirming definite plans to accept the belugas and dolphins. Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) facilitated a visit by experts from Shedd Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, and SeaWorld to observe the belugas at Marineland, focusing on their physical health and social interactions.
AZA clarified that it has not been directly engaged in recent discussions regarding the potential transport of beluga whales from Marineland. AZA’s president, Dan Ashe, emphasized the expertise of U.S. facilities in beluga whale care and highlighted successful rescue collaborations in the past. Minister Thompson’s office confirmed the recent meeting with Marineland, where new export permits were presented for review.
This development marks the second instance in four months where Marineland has raised the possibility of euthanizing the belugas and dolphins. The park’s previous request to send the whales to China for entertainment purposes was denied by the federal government. Animal rights group Animal Justice has urged the government to ensure compliance with Canadian laws if the animals are exported to the U.S., emphasizing the importance of their well-being post-relocation.
Marineland’s history of controversy and the challenges posed by Canadian laws regarding captive marine animals have significantly impacted its operations. The amusement park ceased public operations in 2024 and faces ongoing scrutiny regarding its treatment of marine mammals. The park’s recent proposal for the relocation of the belugas and dolphins awaits ministerial approval to proceed with the planned transfer to new facilities.