Marineland Threatens Euthanasia for 30 Belugas After Export Ban

Marineland, a closed marine park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, is threatening to euthanize its 30 remaining beluga whales due to financial insolvency unless the Canadian government provides emergency funding or reverses its ban on exporting the whales. The park sought to transfer the belugas to a theme park in China, but Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson denied the export permit, citing Canada's 2019 law prohibiting the breeding, sale, and entertainment use of whales and dolphins, emphasizing that the animals should not remain in captivity. Animal rights groups have condemned Marineland's threat as morally reprehensible and accuse the park of using the whales as leverage for financial gain, while experts highlight the difficulty of releasing captive-born whales into the wild. Marineland has faced longstanding criticism over animal mistreatment and poor living conditions, compounded by a series of whale deaths since 2019. The government and activists urge exploring alternatives such as sanctuaries or intervention under animal welfare laws, but no viable solutions have been agreed upon. The situation underscores the ongoing ethical and legal challenges surrounding captive marine mammals and their care post-closure of facilities like Marineland.