Rows of empty rides and shuttered attractions still stand at Marineland, the Niagara Falls theme park that once drew crowds with orca shows and roller coasters. What remains are not the amusements, but the animals — most notably, 30 beluga whales whose future is now tied up in federal approval.
The company confirmed it has filed paperwork seeking to export all of its belugas. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China has expressed interest in acquiring them, but any transfer would require authorization from Canada’s minister of fisheries. For Marineland, the decision could determine how its final chapter is written.
Years of Controversy
The plan comes after a troubled period in which the park saw repeated animal deaths. According to provincial records, 19 belugas have died at Marineland since 2019. Ontario’s Solicitor General’s Office says inspectors have conducted more than 220 visits since 2020 to monitor animal welfare.
The park’s orca program ended in 2023 following the death of Kiska, its final killer whale. Officials reported she died of a bacterial infection, contributing to a death toll of 20 large marine mammals at the facility in recent years.
Animal welfare issues at Marineland have long been a flashpoint. Former staff members and advocacy groups have alleged systemic neglect. In 2021, the province ordered the company to improve its water systems, though Marineland rejected claims that those issues contributed to whale fatalities. The controversy echoes back decades, with outrage over earlier cases such as the death of an orca named Kanuck in a facility referred to as “the warehouse.”
Pushback From Advocacy Groups
Animal rights organizations have been quick to criticize Marineland’s export plan. World Animal Protection Canada described the move as dangerous and irresponsible. “Belugas are not commodities. The risk of them being auctioned off to the highest bidder—possibly shipped overseas to facilities with equally low standards and continually bred for the animal entertainment industry—is real, and it’s unacceptable,” said executive director Colin Saravanamuttoo.
The group has called on the federal government to speed up work on a proposed seaside sanctuary in Nova Scotia that could house retired whales. It has also pressed Ontario Premier Doug Ford to explain what authority the province has to intervene in Marineland’s operations.
The debate over what should happen to the animals comes against the backdrop of shifting public opinion. Since the release of Blackfish in 2013, criticism of marine mammal captivity has only intensified. Canada codified that shift with Bill S-203 in 2019, which banned the breeding and display of cetaceans for entertainment.
A Park in Decline
Marineland’s decline was accelerated by the pandemic, which decimated visitor numbers. By the 2024 season, the park announced its closure and began listing its property and rides for sale. Though it still describes itself online as an aquarium, zoo, and conservation-minded destination, few signs of its former stature remain.
What happens to the 30 belugas left in its care is now the most pressing question. If Ottawa grants approval, they could be sent overseas. If not, pressure may grow for Canada to provide domestic solutions, such as the proposed sanctuary.
For a park once synonymous with summer family outings, Marineland’s legacy may ultimately be defined not by its midway or its shows, but by how it handles its last remaining animals.
Have you ever visited Marineland of Canada?
