Canada’s last captive belugas at risk of euthanasia after export denial
Canada’s Marineland theme park says it could be forced to euthanize 30 beluga whales after the federal government denied its request to export them to China, raising alarm among animal welfare advocates and officials, according to reports. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson defended the decision under Canada’s 2019 “Free Willy” law, which bans the breeding or public display of whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Marineland, which has been closed to visitors since spring, says it is running out of money to care for the animals and has asked Ottawa for emergency funding.
A struggling park
Located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Marineland has faced years of financial decline and multiple investigations relating to animal welfare. CBC News reported the park spends about $2 million a month maintaining its marine mammals, and at least 19 beluga whales have died there since 2019.
In a statement, Marineland said the export denial left it in “a critical financial state” and warned that euthanasia could be “a direct consequence of the minister’s decision,” according to The New York Times.
Ottawa’s response
Minister Thompson said she rejected the export permit “in good conscience,” citing the 2019 Fisheries Act provisions that protect marine mammals from exploitation.
“To approve the request would have meant a continued life in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” she told CBC News. Thompson added that she personally visited Marineland in September and said, “It was obvious to me that whales belong in the ocean.”
Thompson added she would consider future proposals focused on the whales’ health and a potential sanctuary in Nova Scotia.
Advocates and experts weigh in
Animal rights groups, including Animal Justice and World Animal Protection, condemned Marineland’s statement and urged the Ontario government to seize the whales or move them to a sanctuary.
Andrew Trites, who directs the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, told CBC News that the whales’ health will be the key factor in whether they can travel. He said veterinarians would review blood work and feeding records to confirm consistent intake and look for any signs the animals might be unwell.
What’s next
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was “disappointed” by the federal government’s decision and vowed the province would ensure the whales get “the best life possible.”
“I’m really encouraging the federal government to allow us to make sure that these whales survive in a really great atmosphere or a new home,” Ford said. “You know, we don’t have to move all 30 in one shot. A couple here, a couple there. We want them to survive.”
It remains unclear whether federal or provincial authorities will assume custody of the belugas or how long Marineland can continue to support them without government help.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
