This just in: Marineland is horrible.
It may not come as news to SumOfUs members, but it’s now official since The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) is charging Marineland with five counts of animal cruelty. We’ve been saying for years that keeping large marine mammals in tiny, cage-like tanks is inhumane -- but it was their treatment of land animals that has finally got Marineland in hot water.
A peacock and two guinea hens were found in distress, but most alarming is the charge that found that 35 black bears were not provided with adequate access to food and water. These charges should come as no surprise to anyone following the numerous allegations that have been made against Marineland by former staff members and animal rights advocates.
Animal cruelty is the last straw. Tell Ontario to close Marineland.
As far back as 2012, former Marineland staff claimed animals under the amusement park’s care suffered deplorable conditions. Marine mammals became sick, watched their fur fall out, endured skin damage and even blindness because the administration refused to give them clean water, they claimed. When trainers went public, Marineland threatened them and the news outlets that shared their stories with lawsuits.
We’ve seen this before when nearly two million SumOfUs supporters fought SeaWorld’s deplorable treatment of its orcas -- but we still won. SeaWorld promised to end its cetacean breeding program and California passed the “Blackfish Bill,” banning anyone from imprisoning orcas for profit. We also forced a dozen major airlines to refuse to transport trophy animal carcasses after Cecil the Lion was tragically poached by an American dentist.
None of these animals—in or out of the water—should face another minute of suffering at Marineland. Demand that Ontario shuts it down.
More information
Everyone loves Marineland
CANADALAND. 22 December 2015.
CANADALAND. 22 December 2015.
Marineland charged with animal cruelty
Toronto Star. 25 November 2016.
Toronto Star. 25 November 2016.