Political leaders across Ontario have promised to take action for the remaining beluga whales at Marineland following the death of another marine mammal at the troubled park. The facility recently euthanized a seven-year-old beluga whale named Eos after a lengthy battle with renal disease, marking the 18th beluga death since late 2019.
All major party leaders expressed concern over the situation. Premier Doug Ford called the whale deaths “terrible,” while NDP Leader Marit Stiles repeated her call to shut down the park completely. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie criticized the Ford government’s handling of animal welfare at the facility. The snap election called by Ford is scheduled for February 27, 2025, making animal welfare a key campaign issue.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner proposed a more specific solution, suggesting the remaining 31 belugas should be humanely relocated. Each leader has pledged to help the animals if elected in the upcoming vote.
The park has been under investigation by Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services since 2020. Inspectors have visited Marineland over 200 times and issued more than three dozen orders. In 2021, officials declared all marine mammals at the park to be in distress, though water quality issues were finally deemed acceptable by late 2024.
Marineland has defended its treatment of animals, describing the deaths as part of the natural life cycle. The park was only open for two months in 2024 and is reportedly changing hands to new ownership, though no sale has been officially announced.
Public concern remains high, with 88% of Ontarians supporting stronger zoo regulations. Legislative efforts to address the issue have faced challenges. A 2019 law banned breeding and captivity of cetaceans, but MPP Lucille Collard’s zoo regulation bill died when a snap election was called.
Future proposals include mandatory licensing for zoos, annual inspections of safety and care standards, and prohibiting the use of wild animals for entertainment. As the investigation continues into its fifth year, animal welfare advocates continue pushing for greater transparency and more decisive action to protect the remaining marine mammals.
For updates on animal welfare efforts and legislation in Ontario, visit Marketplace Niagara.
