Rebecca Manzi Marineland in Canada is threatening to euthanize 30 belugas after financial collapse. A blocked transfer to China and government standoff leave the whales in limbo.
@Dolphin Project
For decades, Marineland in Niagara Falls was one of Canada’s most famous marine parks, drawing tourists with its dazzling water shows and promises of family fun. But that image has crumbled. After years of mounting debts and allegations of animal mistreatment, the park shut its doors in 2024. Now, it’s at the center of an international scandal after threatening to euthanize 30 beluga whales because it can no longer afford to care for them.
The park’s management says it needs immediate government funding to keep the animals alive. Without it—or permission to send them abroad—it claims it has no other options.
The blocked transfer to China
Initially, Marineland proposed sending the belugas to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, a massive marine zoo in Zhuhai, China. But Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson rejected the request, arguing that such a move would simply extend the animals’ captivity, not improve their welfare.
“The transfer would not represent a meaningful change in living conditions,” Thompson said.
In response, Marineland sent a letter to the federal government threatening to euthanize the animals if financial aid or export authorization wasn’t granted quickly. It was a stark escalation, designed to pressure Ottawa into action.
The federal government, however, stood firm. Officials reiterated that the park itself is financially responsible for its animals—not Canadian taxpayers. Thompson did leave a door open, saying the ministry would consider alternative destinations for the belugas, but only if these would genuinely improve their wellbeing.
Animal welfare organizations were quick to condemn the situation, calling it the direct result of years of negligence and exploitation. Since 2019, Marineland has seen the deaths of 19 belugas and one orca, a grim tally that has reignited the long-running debate over the ethics of marine parks.
The whales’ uncertain future
Releasing the belugas into the open ocean is not considered a realistic option. Having been born and raised in captivity, the animals lack basic survival skills—such as hunting or socializing with wild pods. Simply setting them free would likely be a death sentence.
Still, the prospect of a mass euthanasia has triggered widespread outrage. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has signaled that the province may step in to ensure the animals’ welfare, though details remain vague.
Marineland has become a symbol of an unresolved dilemma: how to close outdated marine parks while ensuring the animals that once entertained crowds don’t end up abandoned or killed. These whales, once seen as tourist attractions, are now at the center of a moral and logistical impasse.
Source: Animal Justice
