Niagara Falls mayor stresses urgency of finding Marineland belugas a new home as it’s running out of food

Marineland is running out of food — and money — to feed the 30 beluga whales and other animals that live at its now-shuttered park, says the mayor of Niagara Falls, Ont.

“Unfortunately, they’re telling us they’re burning the furniture to heat the house,” Jim Diodati told Radio-Canada in an interview Friday. “There’s no money.” 

He said he spoke to park representatives Thursday, and learned it has restructured and borrowed money to continue to buy food for the belugas, dolphins, sea lions, seals, deer and bears — but it’s only a matter of time before it runs out. 

Marineland did not respond to requests for comment by publication time. 

The theme park in Ontario’s Niagara Region was founded in 1961, but didn’t open this past season and has been closed to the public since the end of summer 2024. The park is attempting to sell its assets, including its rides, but has faced financial and other challenges.

Last week, the company warned it may have to make the “devastating decision” to euthanize the remaining belugas — after the federal government denied its request to export them to a facility in China. 

Marineland also hasn’t found a suitable sanctuary or another facility in Canada that would be able to house the whales. The park has said a proposed Nova Scotia sanctuary is too polluted and isn’t on track to open soon enough.

Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly urged the federal government to reconsider its decision to deny the export permits. Animal welfare is legally the responsibility of the province.

Caring for the 30 belugas costs an estimated $2 million a month, Ford has said.

Diodati said he’s fielding calls from animal experts and organizations around the world offering ideas and possibly money to help save the Marineland animals, in particular the belugas. They’d be the most difficult to move and some “may not make the trip,” the mayor said.

Diodati said that ultimately, Marineland and the provincial and the federal governments will need to work together to come up with and agree on a solution. In the meantime, he said, he’s trying to find one. 

“Here, people are anxious for these beautiful and majestic animals to hopefully have a soft landing somewhere, hopefully in Canada.” 

Captivity might be best for Marineland’s 30 belugas: researchers

The mayor said while he’s heard of other facilities that could possibly take the whales, there’s not a lot of time to figure that out. 

“The federal government needs to work with the provincial government and with us in Niagara Falls to take care of the animals, that they’re our number one priority, and we need to be realistic and really focus on a soft landing, especially the belugas.” 

Once the animals are no longer on the 323-hectare property, Marineland will be able to sell it, Diodati said. It’s being managed by a trust as the original owners have died and no family members are involved, he said.

He also hopes the park will be turned into a “world-class attraction” without any animals.