Animal rights groups demand faster relocation of Marineland animals

World Animal Protection Canada is demanding the government step in and stop the sale of the remaining beluga whales at Marineland.

Marineland closed permanently last year, but some mammals are still at the site in Niagara Falls.

At one time, when Marineland was operational, it had 50 beluga whales but since closing last year there are now 30 left and one animal rights organization says those whales need to be respected.

It’s believed there are a few sealions and seals along with 4 dolphins and around 30 beluga whales still on site at Marineland in Niagara Falls and there are reports that they are for sale and could be sold to the highest bidder.

“It sounds like a wildlife fire sale, where these animals will be sent to the highest bidder, and that’s not a way to ensure the future of these animals is humane. We are very concerned that they will be exported to an aquarium that’s going to breed them and use them for entertainment and for circus style tricks and shows,” says Melissa Matlow, the Campaign Director for World Animal Protection.

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World Animal Protection is also asking all levels of government to be more open with what’s going on with the sale of the whales.

“To be transparent and to be thoughtful and to invite the experts and the groups that want to help to the table to provide the best advice,” Matlow says.

Phil Demers is a former trainer at Marineland and he says anything would be better than the whales current location in Niagara Falls .

“I have had conversations with a lot of animal rights organizations, and they have expressed their concerns with sending the beluga whales to, in this case China. Most of the concerns are that there is less oversight and animal protection laws in that country. But by way of living conditions, if the whales left at Marineland today went to China they would be better off,” says Demers.

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The World Animal Protection organization says the beluga whales should be sent to a future sanctuary on the east coast of Canada, but Demers says that conversation has been going on for too long and the chances of that happening are slim.

“The entirety of that conversation needs to end or that being an option needs to end because it’s not a viable option it’s virtually impossible. It’s not possible for these whales but we have been hanging on to hope that that project would come to fruition for years now and it’s not even remotely close, it’s nowhere near the permit stage,” Demers says.

Demers says facilities in the U.S. don’t want to do business with Marineland because they have a bad reputation.

He says the last batch of beluga whales that were sold to Mystick World in Connecticut have all died.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans told CHCH News today they have received the request to export marine mammals from Marineland.

But no decision has been made at this time. It also says the welfare of the animals is the responsibility of the province of Ontario.

CHCH News reached out to Marineland but they did not get back to us for comment.

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