A shocking ultimatum has emerged from Marineland, the shuttered Niagara Falls amusement park, which says it will be forced to euthanize 30 beluga whales unless the Canadian government steps in with funding or reverses its export ban.
According to CBC News, the company claims it is broke and cannot afford the $2 million per month required to feed and care for the whales.
Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson recently denied Marineland’s request to export the belugas to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, a massive theme park in China, citing Canada’s 2019 law banning the breeding and entertainment use of whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Thompson said she looked the whales “in the eyes” and believed they belonged in the ocean — not in another aquarium halfway around the world.
Animal rights groups say Marineland’s threat is “morally reprehensible,” accusing the company of holding the whales hostage for money.
Colin Saravanamuttoo of World Animal Protection Canada urged Ontario Premier Doug Ford to use the provincial PAWS Act, which allows officials to intervene and provide care for distressed animals while recuperating costs later.
The whales — all born in captivity — remain trapped in a facility long criticized for mistreatment and poor living conditions.
While the park argues no ocean sanctuaries exist to take them, advocates stress that exporting the animals to another exploitative facility is not a solution. Experts warn that euthanizing the belugas would be an unforgivable failure of responsibility.
Ontario and Ottawa are now under intense pressure to find a solution that prioritizes animal welfare over Marineland’s finances.
As the debate rages, one thing is clear: these belugas, who never chose captivity, deserve protection, care, and a chance at a life free from exploitation.
This heartbreaking situation is a reminder to Support efforts that protect animals and reject industries built on their suffering.
Compassion must guide our choices if we are to create a just and sustainable environment.
This article by Nicholas Vincent was first published by One Green Planet on 8 October 2025. Lead Image Credit: Proteck51/Shutterstock.
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