I do not wonder if the animal trainers at Marineland love the animals they work with. I know that they do, because it would be impossible not to fall in love with animals as remarkable as dolphins and whales are known to be. That being said, I sometimes ponder whether they ever consider the repercussions of confining such exceptionally intelligent creatures to a concrete tank.
Since 1961, Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been the destination of families enchanted by a catchy jingle. Regardless of whether you were watching TV or listening to the radio, it was nearly impossible to escape the words “There’s a place I know in Ontarioooo…”
Behind the earworm song and carefully selected scenes, the reality of the animals’ lives was not as cheery. At least thirteen orcas, and countless belugas and dolphins have died over the years. The park continually claims that these are natural deaths due to sudden illnesses or old age, but it should be known that twenty whales, including Kiska, have died in the last five years alone.
Kiska, the oldest orca to have survived at the park, died at age forty-seven, after spending the last twelve years of her existence without any other whales of her kind for company. After years of opposition and slow decline, the park is for sale and has expressed the need to move the marine animals “fastidiously”. What is next is yet to be seen, but all eyes should be on the future of these animals.
For The Whales 