Updates: Animal Justice urges police to intervene over Marineland beluga massacre threat and presents an action plan to governments to protect the whales, and whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia gets approval.
The Canadian government rejected Marineland’s permit application to export 30 beluga whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China. This decision protects Marineland whales from a dangerous transfer that would have condemned many to death and left the surviving whales to suffer in another tiny tank overseas.
The export itself would have been incredibly stressful and potentially deadly. At their destination, the whales would likely have been subjected to cruel practices that are illegal in Canada. To make matters worse, there are no animal protection laws whatsoever in China.
Cruelty to Whales at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
In 2019, Animal Justice helped pass a groundbreaking national law (Bill S-203) to phase out whale and dolphin captivity. It’s now illegal to breed captive cetaceans or force them to perform for entertainment. Additionally, any whale exports granted must reflect the best interests of the whales.
But at Chimelong, whales are subjected to troubling treatment and conditions:
- Trainers force belugas to perform in shows multiple times a day.
- They are swam with, ridden, and forced to jump and pose for the public.
- Belugas are bred in captivity, perpetuating cruelty for a new generation of whales.
- Whales spend much of, if not their entire lives, in indoor tanks with peeling paint and rust.
- Loud music and huge crowds cause stress and can damage hearing.
There have been a number of documented incidents of animals at Chimelong parks displaying abnormal behaviours, raising concerns for their well-being. For instance, in 2024, orcas were observed repeatedly banging or tapping their heads or abdomens on the floor and walls of their tanks.
Marineland Whale & Dolphin Deaths
Since 2019, 20 whales and dolphins have died at Marineland, including Kiska, the last captive orca in Canada. Marineland is closing, but dozens of whales and dolphins remain trapped inside barren concrete tanks. Without urgent action, their lives remain at risk.
Of the five belugas Marineland exported in 2021 to an aquarium in the US, three have tragically died from health complications. This underscores the risks of transferring whales overseas, particularly if they may be suffering from health problems.
The health of the remaining survivors remains a major concern. They deserve a kinder future, not further suffering in a tank.
Canada Should Send Marineland Whales to Sanctuaries
The government stopped this harmful export, but Marineland whales still need permanent protection. Seaside sanctuaries would allow whales to swim in natural waters under human care, which they need to survive. Please join us in calling on the Canadian government to send as many of the whales as possible to sanctuaries!
