Niagara
Falls, home of Marineland, is the latest municipality to
pass a resolution calling on
Ontario to bring in comprehensive
zoo regulations
NIAGARA
FALLS, ON, June 27, 2024 /CNW/ - As Marineland
is set to open its doors on Friday, doubling down on its
substandard beluga whale exhibit while seemingly abandoning its
other animal attractions, the City of
Niagara Falls has joined growing calls for the Government of
Ontario to bring in comprehensive
captive wildlife regulations.
"World Animal Protection commends Niagara Falls City Council for
showing true leadership as the city deals with the ongoing
reputational risk of Marineland continuing to operate in its
current form," said Michèle Hamers, Wildlife Campaign Manager
for World Animal Protection Canada. "Cities like Niagara Falls should not be held responsible
for having to regulate zoos or zoo-like facilities, that
responsibility should fall with the Province, as it does in almost
every other province in Canada."
City Council passed the resolution unanimously at its
June council meeting as part of a campaign launched by World Animal
Protection in conjunction with the Association of Municipalities of
Ontario (AMO), Municipal Law
Enforcement Officers' Association of Ontario (MLEOA) and the Association of
Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO).
Niagara Falls is the 21st
municipality to pass the resolution since the campaign was
launched this spring, joining municipalities big and small
including St. Catharines,
Belleville, Wasaga Beach, and Kirkland Lake. Other municipalities have
expressed an interest and are actively looking to schedule votes on
similar resolutions in the coming months. World Animal Protection
is urging other municipalities to do the same. The more
municipalities that sign on, the stronger the message is sent to
Premier Doug Ford that this is a
major issue for municipalities that hits at the heart of law
enforcement and fiscal responsibility.
Marineland's opening comes amid a lack of clarity over the
future of the facility. In April, the organization announced that
it will be under new ownership, but no further details have been
released.
"We are deeply concerned about the welfare of the animals at
Marineland, including those no longer on display such as the
penguins, bears and other land animals. The company has provided no
details as to their wellbeing," added Hamers. "World Animal
Protection calls on the Government of Ontario to show leadership and oversee the
closing of wildlife displays prioritizing the best interest of the
animals, while being transparent to the people of Ontario."'
Rather than visiting captive animal facilities, Ontario is lucky to have one of the best
provincial park systems in the world and has several great national
parks where you can see wildlife in nature.
Additionally Ontarians can write to the Solicitor General to
express their concerns about the welfare of wild animals kept at
places like Marineland and other under-regulated 'roadside zoos' in
Ontario and the risk these places
pose to public safety.
Key Facts:
- In March, the Canadian Press reported a horrifying
sixteen beluga whales, one orca, one dolphin,
two seals and two sea lions have died under
suspicious circumstances at Marineland since 2019.
- Marineland was found guilty under Ontario's animal welfare legislation for
failing to comply with an order related to the care of three young
black bears.
- Marineland was previously charged for allegedly
using captive dolphins in performances for entertainment purposes.
Those charges were stayed, due largely to backlogs in Ontario's criminal justice system. World
Animal Protection has since found Marineland was seemingly
continuing to engage in programming that exploits the dolphins it
continues to own which is illegal under Canada's Criminal Code.
- Marineland announced in April a 'potential sale' and has
provided no further details of the status of animals no longer on
display
SOURCE World Animal Protection