Canadian Marine Park Faces Controversy Over Euthanizing Beluga Whales

Fri Oct 10 2025 09:16:20 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Marineland in Ontario threatens to euthanize 30 beluga whales after the government denies its request to send them to a theme park in China.

Following the Canadian government's refusal to allow Marineland to transfer 30 beluga whales to a theme park in China due to animal welfare concerns, the Ontario park has warned of potential euthanasia for the whales. The Fisheries Minister turned down funding requests, emphasizing the park's ongoing issues and the need for comprehensive animal welfare reforms.

Canadian Marine Park Faces Controversy Over Euthanizing Beluga Whales

A Canadian amusement park is threatening to euthanize 30 beluga whales after the government blocked its request to send them to China.

Marineland in Ontario had hoped to offload the cetaceans on a theme park in Zhuhai, after suffering years of animal welfare concerns and financial woes.

However, their transfer was denied by the Canadian government last week due to fears they would face similarly substandard treatment as 'public entertainment'. Following this, the park sought federal funding to continue caring for the animals, but this was rejected, labeled 'inappropriate' by Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson.

In light of the denial of funding and with the park winding down operations, Marineland has hinted that it may have to euthanize the belugas, as reported by the New York Times and CBC News. They claimed this situation was a direct consequence of the minister's decision.

Marineland described being in a critical financial state and expressed it could not provide adequate care for the whales while faced with operational shutdowns during the summer to remove remaining animals.

Thompson rebutted Marineland's claim, stating it did not warrant federal financial support due to their lack of a viable alternative for the belugas. Marineland had hoped to relocate the whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, positioned between Hong Kong and Macau in China.

The minister identified that revised fisheries legislation from 2019, which prohibits using whales and dolphins for entertainment, contributed to her refusal of the export permit. I could not in good conscience approve an export that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured, she affirmed.

Criticism towards Marineland has existed for years, intensifying after an investigation by Animal Welfare Services in 2020 revealed distress among the marine life, leading to the death of 12 whales over a two-year period. Since 2019, an alarming total of 20 whales have died in the marine park, with five deaths reported in 2024 alone.

As the attendance dwindled and financial issues escalated, Marineland was granted permission in February to remortgage its land to fund efforts to find new homes for its animals.

Animal welfare advocates have expressed outrage at Marineland's threats of euthanasia. Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, emphasized the park's moral obligation to fund the future care of the animals, calling the euthanasia threats reprehensible. Additionally, World Animal Protection urged the provincial government to seize the belugas to ensure they receive the highest level of care possible.