Animal rights group calls for action after another beluga whale dies in Marineland, Niagara Falls

An animal rights group has called for government intervention after another beluga whale died in Marineland, Niagara Falls.

Animal Justice, a Canadian nonprofit organization, is calling for prompt action and accountability following reports of another whale death at Marineland.

A beluga whale died recently at the park, Canadian Press reported this week.

It is the fourth beluga to die this year and provincial records show 16 beluga deaths and one killer whale death since 2019.

“It is deeply saddening that the many beluga whales still believed to be trapped at Marineland are being left to die one by one. These highly intelligent, social animals are suffering, and it’s long past time for Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services to step in and put an end to this tragic cycle of neglect and death,” said lawyer and Animal Justice executive director Camille Labchuk.

Animal Justice calls for the government to intervene.

“With Marineland reportedly up for sale and no clear plan for the care of the animals still stuck there, authorities and the government need to take decisive action and end the neglect before more lives are lost,” Labchuk said.

Marineland’s owner and wife of the founder, Marie Holer died on Sept. 6 and there is a succession plan in place, the park said in a statement. It’s not clear if the park remains up for sale.

Marineland did not immediately respond to a request for comment but in June the park told INsauga.com that Animal Justice is not qualified to comment on marine mammal health.

“Animal Justice is a group of lawyers who generally believe any animal in captivity is thereby suffering abuse,” the park’s statement read. “Not a single one of them has any relevant training or expertise in marine mammal medicine or care and quite literally are not legally qualified to care for a cat in Ontario.”

The animal rights organization makes negative allegations without facts, knowledge or understanding, Marineland said.

“They raise a lot of money for themselves doing so,” the statement read.

Marineland is inspected nearly weekly by Ontario Animal Welfare services and qualified veterinary experts care for the animals, Marineland said.

“Animals at Marineland have and will die, just like anyone’s pets, from old age and natural disease processes,” the statement said. “As long as the donations from the public keep flowing in, groups like Animal Justice will continue to make false allegations against Marineland.”

The tourist attraction is the only place in the country that still holds whales in captivity. And three out of five belugas that Marineland sold to Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut have died since being moved there in the spring of 2021.

Earlier this year, Marineland was sentenced following a conviction under Ontario’s animal welfare laws for its neglect of three young bears formerly in its care.

With files from the Canadian Press

Lead photo: Owen Bowers