Thirty Beluges in Canada are confronted with euthanized. Can they be saved?

For decades, Marineland has been a destination for Canadian children and their parents, who wanted a close look at the ocean life near Niagara Falls.

But behind the watery -themed rollers and dolphin performances, there was a dark history of documented abuse of animals and prolonged financial problems.

Ontario animal welfare services have conducted numerous investigations in the last few years Visiting the park more than 200 times since 2020, according to CBC News.

Against the backdrop of financial struggles, the park is trying to get permission to sell 30 Beluga whales to China. When their permits were refused, the park said it might have to be euthanized whales.

Defenders, experts and employees are now looking for ways to save whales – although few agree to one decision, and some say that Marineland’s threats to kill his whales are all talking.

The massive water park, started by John and Marie Holer in 1961, sits over 1000 acres (400 ha) by Prime Ontario Real Estate.

But what was once a favorite attraction with a catchy commercial jingle is confronted with increasing control of their animal care, which also included land animals such as bears and moose.

In 2019, Canada adopted a bill that made an illegal detention of a prisoner of Whale, Dolphin or Porpoise.

The legislation has created protection for all future animals, but not for animals that are already in captivity, leaving a little space for the federal government with the whales in Marineland.

The criticisms of the park date back several years, and in 2020, animal welfare services have opened an investigation into the park.

This investigation has led to the provincial animal welfare agency, which declares that the entire marine life of the park is exposed to a disaster due to poor water quality. By 2024, after investing in new technology, water quality was improved, the provincial government told the Canadian Press Agency.

But that year, Marineland was found guilty, under the laws of the cruelty of animals in Ontario to abuse and neglect three young black bears, which were held in small enclosures with inadequate access to water for months.

A total of twenty whales – one Orca and 19 Belugas – died in Marineland in 2019, according to the Canadian press. The company said the animals were well treated and the deaths were part of the natural life cycle.

The visit to the park dramatically refused, and this spring did not open for tourists as usual. Many accept that bankruptcy is inevitable.

“Unfortunately, they tell us that they burn the furniture to heat the house,” Niagara waterfall Jim Diodatti told Radio-Canada on Friday. “No money.”

Park employees say they can’t afford to continue to care for the animals, so they have to find a new home for them. Marineland applies for permission from the federal government to sell the whales to the theme park in Juhai, China.

But fisheries minister Joan Thompson said whales would face such non -standard treatment as “public entertainment” in the Chinese park and denied Marineland’s request.

A number of organizations have agreed with Thompson that the Juhai Park is not an appropriate option.

Then last week the park shocked many when he told the government that he might need to euthanize whales. He asked the Canadian government to fund to continue taking care of animals instead.

A letter from Marineland to the Ministry of Fisheries received from the BBC is said that whatever happens to the animals will be “a direct consequence of the minister’s decision”.

This statement was not well accepted by the government.

“The fact that Marineland has not planned a viable alternative, although it has raised these whales captive for many years does not put the weight of the Canadian government to cover your expenses,” Thompson said in a letter to Marineland received by the BBC.

The current condition of the whales remains unclear. Marineland did not answer BBC’s request for comment.

But Phil Demers – who has been working for 12 years as a senior coach at Marineland and has since become an outspoken critic – told the BBC that there are limited options except the China that can take away all 30 whales in a single facility.

He believes that the best whale scenario is any option that brings them out quickly from Marineland.

Without China, he believes that the best possible result is a coalition of American facilities, each of which takes a handful of whales.

“These animals should be out of these waters yesterday,” said D Demers.

Others say the conditions set up the province’s government to intervene and seize whales.

Ontario may appoint inspectors to take care of animals in the disaster and reimburse the costs of the owner of the facility, according to the Law on Provincial Services for Animals (PAWS).

This is the first step that many want to see the Prime Minister of Ontario Doug Ford.

“Prime Minister Ford needs to realize whether or not he likes him, Ontario has a major jurisdiction over wildlife in the province of the province,” says Colin Saravanamuto, CEO of World Animal Protection Canada. “This chicken game between Marineland, the province and Ottawa is completely unacceptable – Prime Minister Ford has to activate, lead and stop handing over the dollar.”

The preservation of whales and dolphins, an animal welfare organization, also wrote to Ford asking to order independent veterinary assessments of each whale, so “every individual receives a humane and compassionate result.”

The Ford service did not return the BBC request for comment.

The preservation of whales and dolphins wants to see the whales sent to a sanctuary in Nova Scotia, managed by the project for the Whale Sanctuary.

But there are some warnings.

Charles Vinic, CEO of the whale sanctuary, said the facility would not be ready by next summer and would be able to take only eight to ten of the whales.

“There is no open sanctuary to accommodate them today or tomorrow,” he said.

So far, as the options for saving whales continue to be discussed, there is great confidence that Marineland’s conversations about euthanasia are just talking.

“The whole threat of euthanasia is inflated,” said G -N -Demers, a former Marineland employee.

But the clock is ticking to find a solution that gives these animals a better, more favorable life.

“It will take more than one person or one organization to provide these animals with the quality life they deserve,” said Vinic.