‘Monumental day’: Animal rights group that reported Marineland to police celebrates charge
Posted December 13, 2021 5:10 pm.
Last Updated December 14, 2021 8:05 am.
An animal rights group that reported Marineland to Niagara police back in 2019 is celebrating news of the charge laid against the animal-based theme park on Monday, calling it a “monumental day” in the fight against animal exploitation.
“We’re thrilled to hear that charges have been laid against Marineland with respect to the whales and dolphins being used in performances,” Miranda Desa, Canadian Council with Last Chance For Animals, told CityNews on Monday.
Desa said Last Chance for Animals has been investigating Marineland since 2015. The group sent one of its inspectors to the park twice in August 2019 after the Liberal government passed a law banning the use of animals for entertainment purposes.
She said during the visits, their inspector “observed dolphins doing flips, spinning on the side of the pool, doing jumps and other tricks, as well as participating in something that Marineland calls a dolphin dance party.”
Desa said the inspector also attended the Beluga pool where whales were being prodded to do tricks for food.
The inspector recorded footage that the group submitted to Niagara Regional Police, who Desa said followed up, but didn’t press charges at the time.
Here’s more of the footage shot by an @LC4A investigator this summer and shared with @CityNewsTO.
Full story: https://t.co/PPEh04lvyz pic.twitter.com/I6wL4AH0hY
— Caryn Ceolin (@carynceolin) December 13, 2021
Officers announced on Monday that a complaint from a member of the public in October 2021 ultimately led to Marineland being charged with one count of using a captive cetacean for performance for entertainment purposes without authorization.
Marineland issued a statement on Monday, defending its use of the animals for “educational” purposes.
“Marineland of Canada Inc.’s educational presentation was designed by experts to provide Canadians with an accessible opportunity to learn about marine life.
“Our animal presentation contains marine mammals undertaking behaviours they exhibit in ocean environments. These behaviours are combined with an educational script delivered by Marineland staff, providing a foundation in understanding of these important marine species.
“Marineland understands why ideologically driven activists would file a police complaint, and appreciates the pressure the Niagara Regional Police were put under to lay such a charge. We look forward to the opportunity to defend ourselves in a court of law where the feelings of non-experts are not treated as facts and the truth prevails.”
Desa took exception to Marineland’s justification for using the animals.
“It’s difficult from my perspective to see the educational value of a dolphin dance party,” she said.
“The law itself says that performances for an entertainment purpose are prohibited. It doesn’t have explicit language that says ‘if there is an educational component then the performance is allowed.’
“I think this is a very important day for whales and dolphins in Canada.”
A court date in the case against Marineland is scheduled for Feb. 14.
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With files from CityNews’ Caryn Ceolin and Lucas Casaletto
