A group of beluga whales swim and feed in Hudson Bay, outside Churchill, northern Canada. Photo: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP
A Canadian theme park says it will have no choice, but to euthanise 30 beluga whales, if the federal government does not provide emergency funding by the end of Tuesday (local time).
Marineland, a zoo and amusement park under heavy scrutiny for its treatment of captive animals, closed to the public last year and has reportedly tried to sell its assets since.
The Ontario aquarium remains in possession of the last captive whales in Canada, which it says it lacks the resources to continue caring for.
Earlier this month, Canada denied the park's request to send the whales to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park in China. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said export "would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured".
According to the Canadian Press news agency, 20 whales - one killer whale and 19 belugas - have died at Marineland since 2019.
Inspectors previously declared all animals at the park were in distress, due to poor water quality.
On Friday, park management wrote to the federal government, requesting a cash infusion by 7 October, according to reports by the New York Times and CBC News.
"If we do not receive a response by that date, we will have no choice, but to presume that the answers to our inquiries are negative," Marineland reportedly wrote, adding it would "face the devastating decision of euthanasia".
Thompson declined the request, according to the Times.
"The fact that Marineland has not planned for a viable alternative, despite raising these whales in captivity for many years, does not place the onus on the Canadian government to cover your expenses," she wrote.
While Canada's fisheries minister has argued whales belong in the ocean, some experts have warned that marine mammals bred in captivity cannot be returned to the wild without extensive planning, as the animals often lack hunting and social interaction skills.
Ocean-themed live shows have faced declining attendance and heightened criticism in recent years, with rights campaigners raising animal welfare concerns in many Western countries.
- AFP
