Marineland’s 30 belugas won’t survive outside captivity, experts say
The sea mammals can’t hunt for themselves, could spread disease
A beluga whale swims in a tank at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., in a 2023 photo provided by World Animal Protection. The financially troubled amusement park says it will be forced to euthanize its 30 belugas unless it receives government financial support because it can’t afford to keep them any longer. (Photo courtesy of World Animal Protection)
Marine mammals held in captivity more than two years or born in captivity for public display should not be released into the wild, Fisheries and Oceans Canada says, as the fate of Marineland’s 30 beluga whales hangs in the balance.
The financially troubled Niagara Falls, Ont., amusement park, which did not open to visitors this year, threatened to euthanize its whales earlier this month unless it received government financial support, because it can no longer afford their care.
Animal Welfare Services confirmed the 30 belugas were alive as of Tuesday, said Brent Ross, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General, in an email.
Jason Etok, who grew up in Nunavik, urged Inuit leaders to step in and help provide habitat for the belugas, suggesting they could be released in Hudson Bay, Ungava Bay or the St. Lawrence River.
Inuit organizations have not responded to that suggestion.
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for authorizing the live capture and release of rehabilitated marine mammals into the wild.
In 2018, the department provided scientific advice on criteria that should be analyzed before marine mammals being held in captivity are released into the wild.
Based on that criteria, Marineland’s belugas should not be released, said Tomie White, communications adviser for Fisheries and Oceans.
Animals held in captivity cannot hunt for themselves when released back into the environment.
“They lack the necessary skills for finding food and avoiding predation,” White said in an email.
As well, captive animals released into the wild may carry pathogens or diseases that could infect wild populations. They could also introduce harmful genetic anomalies to wild populations.
“This is of particular consideration for at-risk species that may co-inhabit in the wild,” White said.
Marineland has also determined the belugas won’t survive in the wild because of complex factors, the Niagara Falls Review reported this week.
Nonetheless, Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said he’s received calls from all over the world about what to do with the whales.
“There’s a lot of interest in making sure that we can find a soft landing for the beluga whales,” Diodati said in a phone interview.
Money is the primary issue, he said.
“It’s very expensive to feed and to care for these whales. We’re told by Marineland it’s a million dollars a month.”
Diodati said the belugas’ fate is not a municipal issue, but he’s engaged in finding a solution.
“That’s what responsible humans do, they take care of things,” he said. “I believe there’s no such thing as innocent bystanders.”
He said he hopes the whales end up at a sanctuary where they can be cared for and studied.
Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson encouraged Marineland to work with the Province of Ontario after denying a request to relocate the whales to an amusement park in China.
The provincial government can intervene, remove the animals and ensure they receive proper care, under the Ontario Progressive Animal Welfare Services Act.
The provincial government said Animal Welfare Services has conducted more than 240 inspections at Marineland since 2020 and that the federal government is responsible for signing off on permits to relocate the whales.
“We have done our part, and inspectors continue to ensure that Marineland meets the province’s strict standards,” Ross, with the Ministry of the Solicitor General, said in an email Tuesday.
Nunatsiaq News contacted Marineland for comment, but did not receive a response as of Friday afternoon.
Harvest all of them and distribute the take to urban and Nunavut Inuit. Seriously
Let them be free in the ocean, even if it kills them, at least they get to be free and no get euthanized.
Why not look into Iceland where there have been 2 Buluga whales released in 2019 little white and little Grey are their names and they are doing great! It’s a long slow process and work but this seems like the perfect place for them to go and be intergrated back to the ocean where they belong! Anything is worth trying before ever considering killing them! Marineland took them and should be responsible for their health and transfer. They made millions off these whales! If they can’t care for them the land should be confiscated and the money used to transport them to a safe place! This is really upsetting. Greedy ba@tereds
Animals are resilient and can adapt just like we can. At least give them a chance!
If these whales are to be saved, send them to China. They’re not fit for consumption nor can they survive without being hand fed. They will bring pathogens to native species if released.
The other option is have a lottery for urban Inuit. Whomever’s name that gets picked can harvest one beluga.
If they are not fit for consumption as you state
So why in your last paragraph would you say if a urban inuk person is drawn they can harvest
What harvest something not fit for consumption what will the inuk do with it
I still think the whales have a better chance in the wild. They are a large pod, and most have been born in the wild.
Most if not all were born in captivity. Canada and the USA have not captured wild cetqxeans for over 30 years.
As the article states releasing them has the possibility of spreading pathogens or genetics to wild whales.
It’s not an option.
About releasing in the wild, after being hand fed. Who is to say that their innate instincts will not kick in? Pathogens? Belugas are petted by people on boats. Don’t they carry pathogens after to their group?
If they cannot make it the wild, the their pro caregiver were hacks. It also means DFO allowed bad practices. Fact check all that.
Who give people the right, to take Animal from there natural habita? use them to make money and then discard these magestic creature. Wish they live
out the rest off their lives in some kind off sanctuary .
How do experts know they can’t survive in the wild? Once wild always wild. It is innate in all species passed down to offspring. We are too busy doing the quick thing- killing, instead of doing the right thing -caring for species. They should not have been in captivity in the beginning. They are souls like us. They deserve the best treatment not to die at our hands. Train them to hunt and release them. Wildlife is more intelligent and resilient than we understand.
Experts, eh? I’m getting tired of “experts”, with their fancy education and the books they’ve read and absolutely zero practical experience aside from field trips. Inuit know more about belugas by virtue of living with them for centuries and receive zero credit from the experts. Same too regarding polar bears.
Say, isn’t Trump surrounded by experts too? And look at the shyte they’re doing.
In reality 😂 ” it takes 10,000 hrs. To become an expert at anything, So Realistically that is 9.2 years on average Period. 😂 KNOWLEDGE & WISDOM
Sorry there friend, but 10,000 hours of books and field trips does not an expert make. This lousy attitude of theirs’ completely flies in the face of centuries of Inuit experience and therein lies the problem with any “expert”. Experts only seek recognition and justification for all the time they spent reading books. Experts are a menace, just like politicians and lawyers. Check your history, real history, and you’ll see them for what they are. For any “expert” who makes any kind of claim, there are as many other experts that will refute them.
Inuit have centuries of experience releasing captive beluga into the wild. Really?
Yes Inuit are experts, but so in a different way are scientists with years of real-world experience. To cite Trump here is completely backwards. He surrounds himself with ignorant toadies, while his nutbars like RFK Jr fire scientists and health experts and promote false, dangerous ideas like pregnant women taking Tylenol risk having autistic children.
I agree with you , but ” CRAZY ” is the new normal during the reign of trump.
Inuit are experts in captive beluga. Fascinating. Where can one find these captive beluga?
I’m of the same mind, teach them to hunt, throw fingerlings from a fish hatchery into their tanks and see what happens. Not to criticize “experts” but often they’re the extension of Western mankind who have a superiority attitude: “we know best because afterall we’re smarter than everyone else.” Wild animals are much smarter and more adaptable than we think.
Marineland should set up cameras above and below water and put the belugas on live feed on the internet for a small charitable donation, maybe $1 a day, maybe good monthly deals, like $5 a month, but make that part of income a charity and the money collected would be charitable donations people could claim on income tax, and they could donate more if they wanted. Maybe schools or other groups could subscribe. People across the world could watch. They’d be best in captivity now and people tend to donate more to charities where they have a personal connection and can see the animals every day.
Humans took these poor creatures from the wild, and now they are unwanted. After earning millions for their ‘owners’.
Humans have a Responsibility to now take Care of these creatures and ensure they are Not euthanized or killed for food ,
So you Must find a solution to care for them the rest of their natural lives .
Where else can we see belugas? Amazing and intelligent creatures, please help them!
Take a trip to Churchill or visit a Nunavut community and hire a boat to take you out to see them.
I do not believe that releasing the Beuluga Whales to the Wild is Wise. I think that Adopt a Whale open to everyone in the World would cover the Cost until Next Summer when the 30 Beuluga Whales can go to the Nova Scotia Sanctuary. I Hope that you can arrange this suggestion as I am very concerned about these 30 Beuluga Whales and I will Adopt one for so much a Month as I Strongly believe in this and I support the Nature Conservancy each Month and Plan to take on more to Support Animals from all walks of Life. I would even pay up to $100.00 a Month to Save the 30 Beuluga Whales at Marineland so please consider this option for these Beautiful Whales. Thank you for your time.
Glad to see this article. It’s very timely. No, they can’t be released for these reasons. They have been hand fed dead fish while captive. They’re habituatated to human care. Many were born at Marineland and don’t know a life outside a tank at all. The belugas need to go to another marine park as soon as possible.
Marine land has happily collected years of profit on the backs of these beautiful creatures, taken from the wild and put into this tiny tank of a jail cell. They deserve to return to the wild as a pod, put them with other wild beluga who can show them the ropes. They will learn quickly, they are intelligent and have the ability to adapt. Start training them to hunt now. Do we forget about Hvaldimir the beluga who escaped from captivity and lived in the ocean alone for years? These whales would have each other and could figure it out. Give them a chance. It’s better than euthanized them which will be devastating. Where is the bold action, the creative solutions? These whales were stolen from their families to entertain us and now they are a burden, find a solution that doesnt jump to killing them. That would be too upsetting. They deserve a sanctuary. Canada could be a world leader by building a whale sanctuary as there are so many in captivity that need help, like the 2 orcas in Spain as well. Get on it canada!
The people who were in charge of confining these animals should be locked up and see how they like it. Especially after making millions while holding them hostage.
Why not send them to the whale sanctuary outside of Halifax Nova Scotia,they would be well cared for and living in a natural environment
Drive them up to inuvik and wait for a wild pod to integrate them into. I don’t know, give Inuvik a bow head tag and ask them not to hunt the belugas. I think killer whales would be too much of a danger if they’re released in Quebec.
Oh, Marineland CAN afford to keep the beluga whales alive. The costs just don’t fit their other plans.
Why can’t the Aquarium in Toronto make a big tank for them. The money brought in should be more than enough to pay for the addition and wont cost as much to move them to Toronto.
Why take them away from having a chance to thrive on their own
Turn them loose in their own environment and give the a chance of a life time,
Since it was You who prevented them from living their way of life in the first place,
You do not think as a fish or any other type of creature nor do you live in their environment
All you do is assume,
So trainers could reach these whales to jump through fire hoops but can’t teach them to hunt for food? Makes no sense to me.
These Belugas need to be sent to the sanctuary in Nova Scotia once it has been completed. Both our governments Provincial and Federal could speed up this completion if they would cut all this red tape that is slowing the completion down. In the meantime Marineland will have to continue their care with also outside veterinarians to get them healthy for transport. They will need a lot of time to prepare the plans on how they will get there. Once the sanctuary in Nova Scotia is completed they will be relocated. This takes time.
Please send your letters to the Premier of Novs Scotia Sking for his help. Right now we need to get this sanctuary finished. With all our governments help it should be possible. PleSe write your letters.
Anyone who supports the release of these animals into the wild supports experimenting on Inuit. END OF STORY.
My family and entire community heavily rely on consuming wild beluga to survive.
There are too many unknowns to release the 30 captive animals into the wild.
Contaminates, viruses, diseases, maybe they will change wild beluga migration patterns and make the wild population more suspectable to predation from killer whales.
Right now Northern Canada’s beluga populations are healthy with 70,0000- 90,000 animals and introducing these 30 captive animals could put these at risk.
Shame on anyone who supports this experiment.