Target: Michael Kerzner, Ontario Solicitor General
Goal: Rescue animals at risk of death and neglect at controversial park.
Five captive beluga whales have died at Canada’s Marineland park within the last year. In total, the park has seen the deaths of 17 whales in the past 15 years. The passing of Kiska, dubbed “the world’s loneliest whale,” from a bacterial infection was particularly tragic because the whale had spent more than four decades in captivity and more than a decade in isolation.
The park itself is once again under fire. It remains the only venue in Canada to still hold captive whales. And concerns about the welfare of these whales, as well as other animals in the park, have long been a point of contention. Just a few months ago, the park was given three animal cruelty violations in regard to black bears on the site.
Both animal welfare advocates and politicians have called for actions to save the remaining animals. Sign the petition below to echo these pleas for needed intervention.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Solicitor General Kerzner,
“It is deeply saddening that the many beluga whales still believed to be trapped at Marineland are being left to die one by one. These highly intelligent, social animals are suffering, and it’s long past time for Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services to step in and put an end to this tragic cycle of neglect and death.” A spokesperson for Animal Justice joined the mounting calls for urgent action at Ontario’s Marineland.
Just within a year’s time, this park has been cited for animal welfare violations three times and has overseen the deaths of five beluga whales. Even after the citations, the animals in distress still had to be removed because of the park’s alleged failure to comply with court demands for improved living conditions. The many tragedies that befell “world’s loneliest whale” Kiska (who lost five calves to death) should have been enough for intervention.
When will enough be enough? The passage of the Free Willy bill was supposed to begin a new era for animal welfare in Canada. Honor this effort and save the many animals whose lives remain in limbo at this reportedly neglectful facility.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Diego F. Parra
How many more times will you capture whales and how many will will? If that is what the public want to see as entertainment , frankly that’s just too risky for the whale. I am sure Marineland offers other attractions for their tourists, families and the general public to enjoy the park without holding animals in captivity when they should be left in their natural habibat. Life is not just about making money off of innocent beings, it’s about keeping a healthy balance between humans and other living beings. It’s not just about us!
Lilypearl
When is our government going to outlaw capturing these whales and dolphins and other sea creatures out of the sea away from their families away from their pods and force them to perform tricks for the rest of their life what a selfish self-centered evil greedy thing to do.
It’s a good thing that God will never allow people like these to get into the good side of heaven.
I don’t know why people don’t read God’s word because many live a very greedy narcissist lifestyle thinking it’s all about them let me get it now but this life is just a passing breath away and it goes quickly I would be careful about my ways if I were them they are treading very deep Waters and they are walking through this life with their eyes wide shut people that do these kind of evil things and that is because they are children of the devil they are definitely not children of God no children of God could ever do such treacherous things like this.
This seems like corruption! Are people in the relevant authorities relatives or friends of the park owners? Are they getting a bribe? Otherwise, WHY have the relevant authorities not closed down this hellhole of a park? Or at least removed all whales from them. The park owners and the Ontario authorities were cruel and evil to allow the loneliest whale to be imprisoned in filthy conditions at the park for so long that it must have sent her insane as well as killed her. Those people have the blood of many innocent whales in their hands and I hope those evil brutes suffer the same fate as their victims.