Marineland charged with using dolphins, whales for entertainment without a licence
CBC
Marineland has been charged under the Criminal Code with using dolphins and whales to perform and entertain customers without Ontario government authorization, Niagara police say.
Police said they began an investigation into allegations captive cetaceans (marine mammals including whales, dolphins and porpoises) were being used at the theme park in Niagara Falls in October.
Mario Lagrotteria, the police service's Niagara Falls district commander, said there was video evidence throughout August. He also said it's the first time Niagara police have laid this charge.
"The information [investigators] received substantiated the allegation that this did happen within the month of August," he said.
Police previously confirmed their investigation was launched following a complaint received in October.
Marineland said in a statement to CBC News the park is following the law and "we look forward to the opportunity to defend ourselves in a court of law."
Miranda Desa, Canadian counsel for the U.S.-based non-profit Last Chance for Animals, said the group filed a complaint on Sept. 30 and a followup complaint in late October based on the use of dolphins and beluga whales for entertainment.
A member of Last Chance for Animals visited Marineland on Aug. 3 and Aug. 16, according to Desa. She said they recorded videos of dolphin and beluga whale shows, and sent them to police with their complaint.
Desa said the complaint focused on the use of belugas that were instructed to do tricks for food in front of park attendees.
The video, viewed by CBC News, appears to show dolphins doing flips and tricks for an audience with music playing in the background.
Under a section of the Criminal Code that was introduced in 2019, captive cetaceans cannot be used "for performance for entertainment purposes" unless the performance is authorized with a licence from the province.
After years of debate, the new law, part of Bill S-203, banned the captivity of cetaceans. It included a grandfather clause, however, for animals already in captivity.
Niagara police said the charge against Marineland was for the alleged use of captive cetacean for performance for entertainment purposes without authorization.
Marineland said in a statement the routine was an "educational presentation."
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