The mayor of Niagara Falls stresses the urgent need to find the Marineland belugas a new home as they are running out of food.
The mayor of Niagara Falls, Ontario, says he’s running out of food — and money — to feed the 30 beluga whales and other animals living at the now-closed park near Marineland.
“Unfortunately, they’re telling us they’re burning furniture to heat the house,” Jim Deodati told Radio-Canada in an interview Friday. “There is no money.”
He said he spoke with park representatives Thursday, and learned that it has reorganized and borrowed money to continue buying food for belugas, dolphins, sea lions, seals, deer and bears — but it’s only a matter of time before it runs out.
The theme park in the Niagara region of Ontario was founded in 1961, but did not open last season and Closed to the public from the end of summer 2024. The park has been attempting to sell its assets, including its rides, but has faced financial and other challenges.
Last week, the company caution It may have to take “disastrous decisions” euthanize The remaining belugas – after the federal government rejected a request to export them to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China.
Marineland has also not found any suitable sanctuary or other facility in Canada capable of holding the whales. Parks has said the proposed Nova Scotia sanctuary is too polluted and is not on track to open any time soon.
CBC has contacted Marineland for comment. Following the initial publication of this article, the park sent a statement through an attorney saying that in recent years the park “has faced significant financial difficulties. It is no longer financially viable to continue caring for the current group of 30 beluga whales.”
It also said that after “extensive research” it concluded that the whale did not have the “ability to survive in the wild”.
Marineland said it convened “a committee of marine mammal conservation experts” to conduct a global search and on-site assessment and determined that “Chimalong offers the most suitable long-term environment for the whales”, where they would receive “good protection, medical attention and enrichment opportunities.”
People are worried about the future of ‘royal animals’
Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly urged the federal government to reconsider its decision to deny export permits. Animal welfare is legally the responsibility of the province.
Ford said it costs an estimated $2 million per month to care for the 30 belugas.
Diodati said he has been fielding calls from animal experts and organizations around the world offering ideas and possibly money to help save marine animals, especially belugas. They will be hardest hit to relocate and some “will not be able to travel,” the mayor said.
Diodati said ultimately, Marineland and the provincial and federal governments will need to work together to come up with and agree on a solution. In the meantime, he said, he’s trying to find one.
“Here, people are longing for these beautiful and majestic animals, hoping they will find a soft landing somewhere in Canada.”
Animal welfare advocates say a proposed whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia could be a solution to relocating 30 belugas from Marineland, a now-closed Ontario theme park. But researchers say releasing animals from captivity could introduce new problems.
The mayor said while he heard about it other facilities There isn’t much time to find out where he could possibly be taking the whales.
“The federal government needs to work with the provincial government and us in Niagara Falls to take care of the animals, that they are our number one priority, and we need to be realistic and really focus on the soft landing, especially the belugas.”
Once the animals are no longer on the 323-hectare property, Marineland will be able to sell it, Diodati said. It is being managed by a trust as the original owners have died and no family members are involved, he said.
He also hopes to turn the park into a “world-class attraction” without any animals.
