Marineland Canada’s Cruelty Charges May Have Been Withdrawn But Here’s Why This is Still a Win

While SeaWorld seems to be getting all the attention, it is hardly the only marine park in North America that keep whales and orcas in captivity. Marineland Canada is one of the top tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and has been in business for over 50 years. Despite its assertions that the animals in their care receive the very best available to them, Marineland has a long history of animal abuse.

Many animal welfare organizations are working towards exposing the rampant cruelty, with The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) recently charging Marineland with five counts of animal cruelty. Not surprisingly, the charges were withdrawn last week, with the Crown stating there was no reasonable chance of conviction.

Even though the law may not see animals as sentient beings deserving of freedom yet, this court case was a victory. This legal fight, along with the award-winning film Blackfish, has given the secret horrors of cetacean captivity widespread public attention over the last few years.

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With knowledge that 17 orca whales, 25 beluga whales, and an estimated 22 dolphins have died at the facility, the public is starting to raise questions in regards to the quality of conditions at the park. Marineland has a terrible track record when it comes to the health of their dolphins. Former Marineland trainers have come forward to share the extent of the poor conditions the animals in the care of the facility have been forced to endure.

Dirty, unsanitary water was among the largest concerns to the well-being of the park’s animals. The former trainers described the “barn,” the name given to a tank that housed five of the park’s dolphins as being horribly unkempt. In an interview published in The Star, the trainers said that ” [the dolphins would] lay at the bottom in murky green water or breeched and thrashed wildly, their reactions changing with the chemicals. Their skin fell off in chunks, their color darkened and they refused to eat. This lasted intermittently for eight months, from October 2011 until just before show season began in May 2012 when their water was changed.”

In addition to the physical ailments experienced by these animals due to unsanitary water, many exhibit signs of zoochosis. According to former trainer Angela Bentivegna, captive walruses are very social animals who crave attention from their trainers. However, the walruses at Marineland were kept in dark pens all alone for days. Their only form of stimulation was feeding time. Many of the walruses at the facility have been treated for regurgitation issues, a symptom of extreme psychological distress and depression.

Because former trainers have come forward with their experiences and animal advocates worldwide are keeping the pressure on, change is being made. In a statement released by Marineland once the charges were dropped, the park said they suffered severe “reputational damage” and although the exact attendance figures haven’t been disclosed, if Marineland is following SeaWorld and the Toronto Zoo’s long-term trend, the crowds are dwindling. Change may be slow, but it is happening and animal advocates just like yourself are leading the fight.

What You Can Do

Like SeaWorld, Marineland exploits highly intelligent, sentient animals and subjects them to a life of mental distress and illness in exchange for their profits. The lives of orcas in captivity remain as monotonous as they’ve always been, but we have reason to hope for the future. As the public continues to see the value in Conservation and education via other outlets, SeaWorld and other marine facilities are in a rush to play catch up to appease them. Hopefully, these facilities will begin to move in the direction that is in the best interest of the animals in their care and move away from exhibits that aim only to entertain the customer.

You can help end the suffering at Marineland by ending your Support of this cruel marine park. Boycotting Marineland Canada, and any other facility that keeps animals captive, is the best way to stop the abuse. And please share articles highlighting how captivity negatively impacts orcas and let these facilities know you don’t Support them by not buying a ticket!

Lead image source: lolilujah/Flickr