Captive beluga whales threatened with euthanasia granted final minute reprieve after Canadian authorities approves export to US | EUROtoday

Dozens of captive beluga whales trapped in a defunct amusement park could also be spared euthanasia after the Canadian federal authorities conditionally authorized their export to the U.S.

In a Facebook submit Monday, Canada’s fisheries minister Joanne Thompson stated she had granted a request by the proprietors of Marineland in Niagara Falls to ship the whales to 4 American marine parks.

It comes after the controversial enterprise, which closed down in 2024 after years of scandals and lawsuits, reportedly renewed its menace to euthanize the animals if no deal could possibly be reached, giving Canada no choice besides “export or death,” Thompson said.

Animal rights activists condemned Marineland’s “disturbing” ultimatum, accusing the company of “repeatedly refusing to interact” with proposals to build a sanctuary for captive whales off the coast of Nova Scotia.

“Today, I met with Marineland relating to their proposal to export the remaining whales to U.S. services. It was a constructive assembly, and I supplied conditional approval for export permits,” wrote Thompson.

“I’ll subject the ultimate permits as soon as closing required data is acquired from Marineland. My focus all through has been the very best curiosity of the whales, and that’s what has guided this determination,” she added.

In a press release to The IndependentMarineland stated: “Earlier today, Minister Joanne Thompson notified Marineland of her support for the relocation of our remaining beluga whales and dolphins to proposed facilities in the United States. We extend our gratitude to the Minister and the Canadian government for prioritizing the lives of these remarkable marine mammals.”

Up to 1.2 million guests a yr as soon as flocked to Marineland to see choreographed aquatic exhibits that includes orcas, belugas, dolphins and walruses.

But the establishment got here underneath extreme monetary stress as accusations mounted of inhumane situations, with 19 belugas and one orca reportedly dying there since 2019.

In October the park threatened to euthanize its surviving 30 belugas if the federal authorities didn’t present emergency aid after ministers refused permission to promote them off to a Chinese amusement park.

Last week Marineland renewed that menace, in accordance with Canada’s nationwide broadcaster CBC, reportedly giving the federal government an “imminent” deadline to approve new permits.

“Based on our discussion, I understand that for Marineland, the request represents the last attempt to save the lives of these animals,” Thompson informed the corporate in a letter seen by The Canadian Press.

“In short, the options you have presented are export or death.”

Animal Justice, a Toronto-based marketing campaign group, known as the approval merely “another disappointing turn” in Marineland’s “saga of abuse and neglect”.

“Marineland made millions of dollars by keeping these whales and dolphins in tiny tanks… it’s shocking that they didn’t bother to save a cent to give the whales the happier retirement they deserve,” stated govt director Camille Labchuk.

“Given Marineland’s appalling threat to execute the 30 belugas and four dolphins, the minister had little choice but to offer these conditional approvals. However, we fully expect that the Minister will require individual health assessments for each whale and dolphin to determine whether they are healthy enough to be moved.”

“It can also be important to make sure the whales is not going to be bred within the US—which is against the law in Canada. These animals should be the final technology to endure in captivity,” Labchuk stated.

She added that it was “heartbreaking” that the whales will now by no means be capable of expertise life in a deliberate whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia, which might home former amusement park whales in a 100-acre netted space. (Whales raised in captivity usually cannot be launched into the wild, as a result of they lack key expertise essential to survive.)

According to reviews, Marineland now desires to ship the whales to 4 U.S. parks: Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, and SeaWorld, which has a number of parks throughout the nation.

“We extend our gratitude to the minister and the Canadian government for prioritizing the lives of these remarkable marine mammals,” a spokesperson for Marineland stated Monday.