Marineland’s belugas are facing perilous conditions due to deteriorating facilities, understaffing, and inadequate resources, prompting a former trainer to advocate for their immediate relocation. Kristy Burgess, a former employee at the Niagara Falls, Ont., park, expressed concerns about the well-being of the belugas, citing the park’s ultimatum to euthanize all 30 remaining belugas if emergency funding is not secured as a manipulative tactic. Burgess emphasized the urgency of moving the captive whales out of Marineland to ensure their safety and welfare.
With 19 belugas, one dolphin, and one killer whale having perished at the park since 2019, the situation is dire. Burgess highlighted the poor state of the belugas’ habitats, Arctic Cove and Friendship Cove, where peeling paint and falling concrete pose risks to the animals. The pools’ deteriorating conditions have led to instances of whales ingesting paint chips and rocks, further endangering their health.
Burgess also shed light on the park’s failing water system, hindering proper care for the whales and risking delays in essential medical treatments. Despite multiple requests for comment, Marineland remained silent on Burgess’s allegations, as the park grapples with financial hardship and the denial of export permits for the belugas.
The refusal of export permits by Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson was based on concerns about the belugas’ future well-being in captivity, aligning with a federal law prohibiting captive breeding. In response, Marineland requested emergency funding to sustain the whales, expressing dire financial straits and the looming threat of euthanasia if support is not provided.
Amidst the turmoil, Burgess urged for reconsideration of the export permit denial, emphasizing the need for swift action to safeguard the belugas. The park’s uncertain future has sparked a political debate between federal and provincial authorities, each deflecting responsibility for the animals’ welfare.
Ontario’s oversight of animal welfare laws has led to ongoing scrutiny of Marineland, with concerns raised about water quality and enclosure conditions. The park’s challenges have escalated, with dwindling options for the belugas’ relocation and mounting pressure to address the animals’ distress.
As the fate of Marineland’s belugas hangs in the balance, Burgess’s advocacy underscores the critical need for immediate intervention to secure a better future for these iconic marine mammals.