The scene at Marineland of Canada, near Niagara Falls, may not be what most visitors imagine: 30 beluga whales remain housed in the now mostly-closed marine park, and their future hangs in the balance.
The park says that without emergency government funding or relocation, it may have to euthanize the animals.
This article is for general knowledge only and is based on information from online sources. Exotic or unusual animals may require specialised care and may not be legal in all regions. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict the whales from the Marineland Park.
Marineland’s Financial Collapse
Marineland shut its doors to visitors in 2024 after racking up enormous debts and struggling to cover monthly care costs of around $2 million. What began in 1961 as a modest marine exhibit grew into a sprawling theme park that eventually became mired in controversy.
Decades of ticket sales and whale performances generated substantial revenue, but mounting concerns about animal welfare and costly operations finally caught up. Now the park faces bankruptcy while still housing 30 belugas that need daily feeding, medical attention, and clean water to survive.
A Grim Track Record
Since 2019, one orca and 19 beluga whales have died under Marineland’s watch. Official inspections documented poor water quality and crumbling infrastructure, while animal advocacy organizations accused the facility of systematic neglect.
These losses paint a troubling picture of conditions at the park. Water chemistry problems can cause skin lesions and infections in marine mammals, while inadequate filtration systems allow harmful bacteria to flourish. Such a high mortality rate over just five years raises serious questions about whether the remaining whales received proper veterinary care and environmental standards throughout their captivity.
Canada’s Whale Protection Law
Parliament passed the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act in 2019, effectively banning the capture, breeding, and commercial trade of cetaceans for entertainment purposes. This landmark legislation reflected growing public concern about keeping intelligent marine mammals in tanks.
The law grandfathered existing captive whales but prevented facilities from acquiring new ones or breeding their current populations. Marineland sought to export its belugas to China, but Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson denied the permit, noting the animals would simply face continued confinement and forced performances overseas rather than genuine sanctuary care.
The Euthanasia Threat
Marineland warned it may euthanize all 30 belugas if Ottawa refuses emergency funding. This drastic threat sparked outrage among animal welfare advocates and the broader public who question whether financial pressure justifies ending healthy animals’ lives.
Critics argue the park profited from these whales for decades and cannot simply abandon responsibility when the business model collapses. Veterinary experts note that euthanasia should only occur when an animal suffers from untreatable illness or injury, not because of ownership disputes. The threat has intensified pressure on both federal and provincial governments to intervene.
Federal Versus Provincial Standoff
Ottawa and Ontario remain locked in a blame game over who bears responsibility for the whales. Federal officials insist Marineland must care for animals it profited from, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford argues the province should step in under its Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act.
Fisheries Minister Thompson emphasizes that Ontario must enforce minimum care standards, yet provincial authorities have been slow to act. This bureaucratic stalemate leaves the belugas in limbo. Neither level of government wants to set a precedent of bailing out private facilities, but the clock keeps ticking while politicians argue over jurisdiction and funding responsibilities.
Why Wild Release Won’t Work
Releasing captive-born belugas into the ocean sounds appealing but would likely prove fatal. These whales never learned essential survival skills like hunting live prey, navigating vast distances, or recognizing predators.
Wild beluga pods operate with complex social structures and communication patterns that captive whales never experienced. Marine biologists warn that dumping them into Arctic waters would condemn them to starvation or injury. Their immune systems may also lack resistance to pathogens common in natural habitats. Genuine sanctuaries that provide ocean pens with human support offer the most humane alternative to continued tank captivity.
Sanctuary Solutions And Setbacks
A proposed marine sanctuary in Nova Scotia could eventually house these belugas in spacious ocean pens that allow natural currents, tides, and marine life while providing veterinary oversight. However, construction remains incomplete and the facility cannot yet accommodate 30 whales.
Past relocation efforts highlight the risks involved. Three of five belugas transferred to Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut during 2021 later died, demonstrating how stressful moves can be for these sensitive animals. World Animal Protection and Animal Justice urge independent health assessments before any transfers occur, ensuring each whale can physically handle the journey and that receiving facilities meet rigorous care standards.
Who Should Pay The Bill
The question of who finances long-term care remains bitterly contested. Marineland owns valuable real estate and other assets, yet insists it cannot afford ongoing whale care without government assistance.
Many Canadians bristle at using tax dollars to rescue a private business that generated profits from animal performances for over 60 years. Animal welfare advocates argue the park should liquidate assets to fund sanctuary transfers rather than threatening euthanasia. Others contend that regardless of past profits, the whales’ immediate welfare must take priority and governments should temporarily cover costs while pursuing legal action to recover funds from Marineland’s owners and estate.
