OTTAWA—National animal law organization Animal Justice is applauding the federal government for acting in the best interests of the belugas at Marineland by denying permits to export all of the 30 surviving beluga whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, an aquarium in China. Chimelong has an active breeding program, and forces whales to perform in shows—activities that are illegal in Canada.
Under federal laws passed in 2019 outlawing whale and dolphin captivity, a beluga can only be exported if doing so is in the best interests of the animal, or for legitimate scientific research.
“Denying Marineland’s export permit requests is absolutely the right decision. We applaud the federal government for prioritizing the best interests of these incredible, intelligent animals,” said lawyer Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice. “Marineland cannot be allowed to sell these belugas to the highest bidder at another exploitative aquarium, in a country with no animal welfare laws, where they would have been used for breeding and cruel entertainment performances.”
“We urge the federal and provincial governments to continue this progress by working together to transfer as many belugas as possible to seaside sanctuaries, where they can finally live in a more natural and dignified environment,” Ms. Labchuk said.
In 2021, Marineland obtained permits to move five beluga whales from Marineland to Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. Three of the five whales later died. The potential for disastrous outcomes, such as the fate of the animals sent to Mystic, underscores the need for careful scrutiny of any plan to relocate Marineland’s surviving whales.
Each of the surviving beluga whales at Marineland requires a thorough, independent health assessment to determine their current condition and specific needs. This is crucial for ensuring their well-being and for making informed decisions about their future care and placement. These assessments should be conducted by qualified marine mammal veterinarians and experts, free from any influence by Marineland.
The ultimate goal for these belugas should be their transfer to a reputable marine mammal sanctuary, where they can live in a more natural environment and receive specialized, long-term care. Sanctuaries offer a chance for these highly intelligent and social animals to recover from the stresses of captivity and to live out their lives with greater freedom and dignity.
The Whale Sanctuary Project has been working to develop a seaside sanctuary in Nova Scotia, which would see a large cove netted off to provide vastly more space for the whales than any aquarium could offer.
Contact:
Josh Lynn
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
Camille Labchuk
Executive Director
[email protected]