Overview
- Thirty belugas remain at the closed Marineland park in Niagara Falls after Ottawa denied a proposed mass transfer to China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom.
- Marineland has warned it may kill the whales without new funding or placements, a threat the federal government rejected.
- Ontario’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services can seize the animals in place if they are deemed in distress and order independent veterinary assessments.
- If the province assumes custody, it could apply for interprovincial or international movement permits under federal trade and wildlife rules.
- Potential placements under discussion include the proposed Nova Scotia seaside sanctuary, Iceland’s beluga facility, select U.S. aquariums, and interim Canadian options.