Marineland, the closed amusement park and zoo in Niagara Falls, Ont., has applied to the federal government for permits to export its remaining 30 belugas, a federal official confirmed.
China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom told CBC News it is weighing a possible purchase of the whales, though no deal has been finalized. The move comes as questions grow about the future of the animals after Marineland did not reopen this year for the first time in its 60-year history outside of COVID-19 closures.
Since 2019, 19 belugas have died at the park and its final orca, Kiska, died in 2023. Drone footage captured this summer showed staff continuing to care for the animals.
Canada’s Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act (Bill S-203), passed in 2019, bans breeding and entertainment use of cetaceans. Exports are prohibited unless the Fisheries Minister issues a permit for research or if the transfer is deemed in the best interest of the animals. The last export approval came in 2021, when five belugas were sent from Marineland to Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. Three later died.
Experts say transporting belugas requires extensive health checks, veterinary care, and specialized logistics. “It’s not as simple as calling FedEx,” said Andrew Trites of UBC’s Marine Mammal Research Unit, noting that blood tests, feeding records, and stress monitoring are essential.
Animal law advocates argue the belugas should instead be sent to a seaside sanctuary, though no such facility currently exists in North America. A proposed site in Nova Scotia stalled due to lack of landowner approval.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson is awaiting a departmental report before ruling on Marineland’s applications. The decision is expected to weigh animal welfare against Canada’s legal framework on cetacean captivity.
