Marineland, a Canadian amusement park located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has sparked widespread outrage after threatening to euthanize 30 beluga whales due to its financial struggles and the Canadian government’s refusal to approve their transfer to a theme park in China. The park, which houses the largest captive group of beluga whales in Canada, had sought to relocate the cetaceans to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, China, following years of animal welfare concerns and financial instability. However, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson denied the export permit, citing Canada’s 2019 fisheries legislation that prohibits the use of whales and dolphins for entertainment. Thompson stated that approving the transfer would have perpetuated the animals’ life in captivity and subjected them to public entertainment, a fate she could not endorse. Marineland then requested federal funding to continue caring for the whales, but this was also denied, with Thompson labeling the request as ‘inappropriate.’ Facing a ‘critical financial state’ and unable to provide adequate care, Marineland has now warned that euthanasia may be the only option. Animal welfare advocates have condemned the park’s actions, with organizations like Animal Justice and World Animal Protection calling for provincial intervention to ensure the whales’ safety and well-being. The controversy follows years of scrutiny over Marineland’s treatment of its marine life, including the deaths of 20 beluga whales since 2019 and a 2020 investigation that found all marine life at the park to be under distress.