Marineland’s belugas are alive after euthanasia deadline passes, Ontario says

Beluga whales swim in a tank at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., Friday, June 9, 2023. Another beluga whale has died Marineland, bringing the number of dead whales at the Niagara Falls, Ont., tourist attraction to 15 over the past four years.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Marineland’s belugas are alive, Ontario’s Solicitor General said Thursday.

The Niagara Falls, Ont., park had threatened to euthanize its 30 remaining beluga whales if the federal government didn’t inject emergency funds for their care.

Marineland’s threats carried a Tuesday deadline that came and went after Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson last week denied its request for an export permit to move the whales to an aquarium in China.

Thompson said she denied the request because she did not want to subject the belugas to a future performing in captivity, which is consistent with a federal law passed in 2019.

Thompson did not capitulate to Marineland’s request, but has said she will consider any new export requests expeditiously.

• Marineland says its belugas shouldn’t go to Nova Scotia’s Whale Sanctuary Project

Marineland has not responded to multiple requests for comment since the deadline passed about the state of the whales.

“We can confirm the 30 belugas at Marineland are alive and remain under the care of Marineland,” said Dakota Moniz, a spokesperson for Solicitor General Michael Kerzner.

Twenty whales, including 19 belugas and one killer whale, have died at the park since 2019 based on internal documents and official statements compiled by The Canadian Press.

Marineland has not opened to the public since the end of summer in 2024, as it looks to sell its vast property one kilometre from Horseshoe Falls. 

Kerzner’s office did not provide further details of the situation at Marineland, where provincial Animal Welfare Services inspectors have had an ongoing investigation since 2020.

Ottawa and Ontario have been pointing the finger at each other to help Marineland’s whales. 

Marineland has said there are no viable alternatives in the world other than China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom to take 30 belugas. A proposed seaside sanctuary in Nova Scotia has stalled over disputes with landowners.

Four dolphins and several seals and sea lions also remain at Marineland, as does the park’s complement of bears and deer.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2025.

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press