Beluga, dolphin die at Marineland: Ontario government

The Ontario government says a beluga whale and a bottlenose dolphin at Marineland have died.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General says the Niagara Falls, Ont., tourist attraction informed the province about the deaths.

A ministry spokesman says necropsies have been conducted by professionals retained by Marineland as required under regulations.

Marineland did not immediately return a request for comment but told the Niagara Falls Review that Sonar, a dolphin, and Kodiak, a beluga, died last week.

The deaths come two months after Kiska, Canada’s last remaining captive killer whale, died at the park.

“It raises many questions around the state of care and reinforces ongoing concerns around the well-being of the rest of the animals at the facility,” said Michèle Hamers, World Animal Protection’s Wildlife Campaign Manager.

Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services team of anti-cruelty officers has been engaged in an active inspection of Marineland for the past three years.

“Given the high number of animal deaths and Marineland’s poor track record, the province should conduct a comprehensive investigation into the cause of death and the conditions the remaining animals are kept in,” Hamers said.

“We are calling on Ontario’s Solicitor General Michael Kernzer to urgently implement stronger regulations and enforcement to protect the health and welfare of the remaining animals at Marineland and in other underregulated zoos and facilities across Ontario before more animals suffer and someone gets hurt.”

With files from Lucas Casaletto of CityNews