It has been confirmed by the Ontario Government that last week beluga whale Kodiak and bottlenose dolphin Sonar died at Marineland, Niagara. As required under regulations, necropsies have been conducted to confirm the cause of death on both marine mammals.
Marine Connection’s captivity director Margaux Dodds comments; “The news of these latest cetacean deaths at this facility is heartbreaking, following just two months after the death at the park of the last captive orca in Canada known as Kiska. Over 20 whales and dolphins have died at Marineland over the past three years, and this continued loss of life is something that needs to be addressed urgently, more transparency is required to find out why this is occurring with such frequency and raises our concern for the welfare of all the animals held at this facility.”
Marineland has come under intense scrutiny over the past few years regarding the treatment of animals held there, including a complaint about their treatment of Kiska prior to her death. The park was also charged by Niagara police in 2021 for using dolphins and whales in performances for entertainment without authorisation, however, these charges were not pursued. Clearly, it is way past time that this park was held accountable for its actions and these latest deaths simply add to concerns which are not being sufficiently heard or acted upon by those with the power to protect the animals in the parks’ care.
