The leaders of Ontario’s foremost political events pledged Monday to assist the remaining animals at Marineland ought to they win the election.
The Niagara Falls, Ont., vacationer attraction euthanized a seven-year-old beluga whale final week after a prolonged battle with quite a few medical points. It’s the 18th beluga whale to die on the park since late 2019.
Marineland has lengthy defended its therapy of animals on the park, saying the deaths are a part of the cycle of life.
Progressive Conservative Chief Doug Ford mentioned Monday the whale deaths have been “horrible.”
“It might be nice simply to allow them to free, however what I perceive, in case you allow them to free within the ocean, they’re performed, they’re deceased,” Ford mentioned at a marketing campaign cease in Oakville, Ont.
“So we will ensure that they nonetheless deal with these whales.”
Opposition events criticized the Ford authorities’s dealing with of the animal deaths at Marineland, with NDP Chief Marit Stiles reiterating her name to close down the park.
The provincial Animal Welfare Companies launched an investigation at Marineland in 2020 that continues 5 years later. Inspectors have visited the park greater than 200 occasions and issued greater than three dozen orders to Marineland in that point.
Animal Welfare Companies declared all marine mammals on the park in misery in 2021 as a consequence of poor water high quality and ordered Marineland to repair the problem. The park briefly appealed that order earlier than dropping the attraction.
Late final yr, the province’s chief animal welfare inspector gave an interview concerning the probe for the primary time and mentioned Marineland’s water was lastly thought of acceptable after years of struggles. The chief mentioned she didn’t consider any of the whale deaths have been as a consequence of poor water high quality.
Ford, a self-described animal lover, mentioned he has had discussions concerning the state of affairs at Marineland.
“What I am instructed by, no matter, the whale specialists – I mentioned, ‘Hey, let’s be capable to switch them, is that an thought? No, they will not survive,'” Ford mentioned.
“So we will should make the very best of it, however we’ll do every thing we are able to to help them. What can I say, it is unlucky.”
Stiles mentioned many Ontarians are apprehensive concerning the animals at Marineland.
“This has been happening far too lengthy, it is outrageous, it is a humiliation, I feel, for Ontario,” she mentioned at a marketing campaign cease in Toronto.
“We have to get these mammals out of that, or a minimum of ensure that they’re handled, at this level of their lives, humanely,” she added. “We can not simply proceed to attend it out until all of them die, it is actually inhumane.”
Liberal Chief Bonnie Crombie mentioned Ford’s authorities failed the animals on the park.
“This can be a heartbreaking state of affairs and one which may very well be resolved with higher inspections and higher regulation,” she mentioned at a cease in Toronto.
Inexperienced Social gathering Chief Mike Schreiner additionally weighed in.
“Ontario Greens would make sure that the remaining animals at Marineland are humanely relocated to acceptable lodging that meet the well being and well-being of the animals,” he mentioned.
The lately euthanized younger beluga named Eos had medical points since 2021, Marineland mentioned final week.
The whale struggled with renal illness and obtained intensive therapy from veterinarians however its situation proved to irreversible, the park mentioned.
In the summertime of 2023, a Canadian Press reporter and photographer visited Marineland. Employees mentioned there have been 37 belugas within the park on the time. Shortly after the go to, Marineland banned the reporter from its property.
The provincial authorities has confirmed that six belugas have died since that go to, and 18 since late 2019. It’s believed 31 belugas stay at Marineland.
“That is ridiculous,” Ford mentioned after studying Monday what number of belugas should be there.
Marineland solely opened for 2 months final yr after saying it was transitioning to new possession, although a sale has but to be introduced.
The snap election Ford known as shall be held Feb. 27.
—with recordsdata from Jordan Omstead in Toronto.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Feb. 10, 2025.
Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
