Canada's MarineLand warns it may have to euthanize 30 beluga whales without funding
Posted by nbcnews@reddit | whales | View on Reddit | 59 comments
Posted by nbcnews@reddit | whales | View on Reddit | 59 comments
Pssay_Licker@reddit
So i have been seeing these news making the rounds and its really heart breaking.
If I understand this correctly, the Canadian federal government doesn’t want to relocate the whales to China because that facility houses animals for captivity. I mean isn’t it just like any other aquariums or zoo’s in the world? Or Am i missing completely something?
Does the government think death is better than being kept in captivity for entertainment or in their current living situation which is in a dirty pool of water?
karlnite@reddit
The place in China breeds whales, for profit. That was the issue.
yuendeming1994@reddit
They should send the whales for free.
karlnite@reddit
The issue is Canada’s laws have been changed since those whales were born. Their stance is whales shouldn’t be bred. So if we send them free whales, they will turn them into more whales in captivity.
TesseractToo@reddit
The Canadian government doesn't want to send them to China because they would be performing animals and that is illegal in Canada since 2019. So it's not just captivity but also forced performance for profit. Ideally they want a sanctuary but they feel that taxpayers shouldn't be footing the bill to clean up for a billionaires mess, unfortunately the animals are caught in the middle
https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.au/news/canada-bans-captivity-whales-dolphins-and-porpoises-entertainment/
WilderWyldWilde@reddit
I think they said that the standards for care in China were lower than that of Canada, and they were not comfortable with that so that's why they refused China's offer.
Mammoth_Welder_1286@reddit
Is it possible for a species like this to be released in the ocean into a protected area? Kind of like how parts of Florida have dolphins, or manatees that are technically in the ocean, but are somewhat fenced off from harm. I would imagine it would reduce the cost of keeping their tank up, and give them a more natural, and larger area, while still having enough human intervention to survive.
TesseractToo@reddit
There is a beluga sanctuary in Iceland so they could get consultation learn from them but the Government doesn't feel it's their responsibility to pay for a sanctuary from tax money for billionaires (and logically doesn't want to set precedent of letting people like this off the hook). Even if they had the budget, it would take longer to build than these belugas would likely survive.
voregeois@reddit
they were born in captivity and don't know how to survive in the wild
WilderWyldWilde@reddit
Idk, you'd have to find what research has been done on such things. It's likely been thought of before. May be problems with logistics. Plus, they would have to refurbish another facility and build that stuff in the ocean for that, which costs money they already don't have to take care of the animals and that the government doesn't want to give to them.
cheeseburgerphone182@reddit
From what it sounded like, she doesn't want them to go to any facility for "continued captivity"
ObligationOk9100@reddit
Yeah. If they go to any other aquarium, especially one with lower standards of care, the cycle of breeding and cruel entertainment continues… until more aquariums get shut down and then whales still have nowhere to go later. Euthanasia can be humane, even if it’s no less devastating. The whole situation sucks
Pssay_Licker@reddit
Further research goes to show that these whales were captured from the wild to begin with. How is that any less cruel than keeping them for entertainment?
It’s nobody place to decide who gets to live or die now other than whales themselves.
Moist-Lawfulness-224@reddit
Its not really the canadian governments problem. The company is asking for a handout to save whales that they trapped and tortured. They need to buck up and pay for a rehabilitation facility themselves. This is not a canadian issue but a corporate scum issue.
Pssay_Licker@reddit
Its not Canadians issue but it is the government issue. No the company doesn’t need to be given a handout but needs to be punished. At the same time, why did the government allow them to breed in captivity?
This is the perfect time to punish the company but we all know it won’t happen.
WhippiesWhippies@reddit
So fucked up. Don't put them in captivity in the first place.
EinSchurzAufReisen@reddit
Ok-Copy3111@reddit
Let them experience freedom for once….
costanzashairpiece@reddit
Seriously, put em in the fucking ocean. It's like not releasing a felon because they are too used to prison life to thrive in the free world. Maybe they all die in the wild. But maybe they live?
Honest-Interview-591@reddit
They can literally let them go and they will be fine. It’s been done multiple times.
Soft-Peak-6527@reddit
Euthanize?! Just fucking realest back into the wild
Riyeko@reddit
As said in the video and at least once in this thread .... These whales were born in captivity and have lost their natural survival instincts. If they were released into the wild ocean, most would starve to death or become injured trying to get food from people on boats.
Due-Helicopter-8735@reddit
Most? Not all right? So the recommendation is kill whales that had some hope of enjoying freedom for some time?
They are 30 intelligent social animals with some sort of bonding- you think they will not enjoy a moment of freedom after knowing nothing but captivity?
The fact that everyone arguing in support of euthanizing the whales can’t even be bothered to look into the fact that alternatives are available and it is primarily a monetary based decision.
GildedTofu@reddit
The choice (if they can’t be rehomed) is to euthanize or to allow a slow, painful death through starvation or attack by an animal they have no idea they need to defend themselves from.
In an already inhumane situation, which shitty choice sounds less shitty?
picklejickletoot@reddit
What happens if they release them into the wild?
GildedTofu@reddit
They won’t know how to fend for themselves.
Avocado_Kalamata@reddit
They should be released in the ocean. It would be better to give them a fighting chance and a taste of freedom than to euthenize them. I am sure they would agree could they speak your language. You would surely be surprised by their natural instinct to survive.
oops_audrey@reddit
Sorry but that would be worse than euthanizing them. They don’t have survival skills anymore. Releasing them would be a confusing, slow death.
Due-Helicopter-8735@reddit
Wrong, several other alternatives are available with gradual introduction to the wild.
This is primarily driven by money.
oops_audrey@reddit
Coming off very strong there. The only successful releases of captive whales were done with whales that were in captivity short-term. These belugas have been in captivity for over 2 years, a point at which release to the wild is very unlikely to be successful. No amount of ‘gradual introduction’ to the wild will teach these whales how to survive after years of human interaction.
Due-Helicopter-8735@reddit
So you don’t have enough date to certainly said it’ll fail either do you?
oops_audrey@reddit
I am not arguing in favour of euthanizing the whales. I have a B.Sc in environmental science and ecology, I love whales. But the idea that ‘we can release them so they can be happy’ is harmful and wrong. They can’t be released.
Keiko, the orca from ‘Free Willy’ was released only to spend a few months floating around a port to be fed by humans, avoiding integration with other orcas, and dying prematurely from pneumonia. That case is the best example we have of what happens to whales held long-term and then released.
The best case for these belugas is to be relocated to the sanctuary in Nova Scotia, or unfortunately, sold to another park.
Due-Helicopter-8735@reddit
What are you recommending then?
Soft-Peak-6527@reddit
They’re intelligent animals. They’ll figure it out quick
Generic_Danny@reddit
The fact that they're intelligent means they won't. Everything they've learned has been from captivity, and if they were released back into the wild, they would have no clue what to do, since it's completely new to them, in contrast, to animals more driven by instinct.
SJIS0122@reddit
Never heard of Keiko the Orca?
He was reintroduced to the wild but could never join other pods of wild orca, he constantly followed boats to seek out humans before dying 18 months after his release of pneumonia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiko_(orca)#Re-introduction_to_the_wild
Kolfinna@reddit
Ohhh a lingering scary death. Sounds great.
killsforpie@reddit
I am not in this field and don’t actually know enough to weigh in. But I’ve always wondered when you’re takiing sbout an animal that likely won’t survive in the wild because if injury or habitation, is it better to live free or die? I think I’d rather die than be stuck in a 10x10ft cage going insane for 25 years. But We can’t ask what they want. I’ve always wanted to ask a wildlife biologist or someone more educated.
Positive-Open@reddit
Do humans really this bad of decisions? You piece of fucks.
Let them free. You dumb fucks.
ga_langdon@reddit
Maybe don't lock a sentient creature in a cage then???? Crazy thought, I know!
tbthatcher@reddit
Is it impossible to just release them? Or could they no longer survive in the wild? They are native to Hudson Bay …
karlnite@reddit
Some suggested it, like opposed to euthanizing and see what happens. They were all born in captivity though.
ebulient@reddit
Where are the billionaires now???
Head-Ad9893@reddit
Playing with the orcas on their private island aquariums.
Persistent_Darkness@reddit
😡 the fux
ExiledintoTrench@reddit
they can’t find homes for them? shameful
xpandax87@reddit
Here's a random idea. Why don't we just release them back in the sea?
Tokihome_Breach6722@reddit
In 1993, at the biennial conference of the Society for Marine Mammalogy in Galveston, Ken (Balcomb) proposed to set up a working committee to study how to return or retire captive whales and dolphins to ocean settings, but he found no support. So at this time there is no established scientific literature or guidance to advise efforts to move captive whales and dolphins to marine habitats. So now we see a wide range of opinions to inform efforts to rescue the sudden disaster of surplus cetaceans. One of the best sources of good information is on our Orca Network captivity page (https://indigo-ukulele-jm29.squarespace.com/config/), including Ken's List of Cetacean Releases (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f10c9d880c01a17a809161e/t/609da91d55413a3d159cb81e/1620945181717/Appendix+C+-+Releases.pdf) and Bibliography of Cetacean Releases (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f10c9d880c01a17a809161e/t/5f418bb096cb8352b44579b6/1598131121380/Appendix+D+-+Bibliography.pdf).
I believe what’s needed is an evidence-based, structured conversation to examine pertinent issues, ideally led by a government or Society for Marine Mammalogy entity to assess the capabilities of whales and dolphins to adapt to natural seawater settings in various circumstances and types of caretaking. There is no consensus on how to retire them to ocean settings. The prevailing belief is that it would kill them, but the record shows most of the captives would adapt and even benefit in natural seawater in well designed conditions.
YxDOxUx3X515t@reddit
Bullshit absolutely disgusting.
Bakktron@reddit
Garbage bs
nlkuhner@reddit
That is bull. Absolutely disgraceful. Where is the go fund me- they are making zero effort.
Anchove16@reddit
Sad.
DazzlingBasket4848@reddit
Fuck these people
oriensoccidens@reddit
Such a shame. What could have been had Marineland swivelled to whale support than extort. I have very fond memories of Marineland as a kid, now as an adult I am torn. The same place that made me love cetaceans were abusing them all along...
Suspicious-Waltz4746@reddit
Exactly what I came here to say. These places exploit them after taking their freedom and then just off them when they can no longer afford care, because…. Oh that’s right…. People are waking up and noticing that captivity is cruel and aren’t supporting your scummy business anymore. There should have been plans in place LONG before it got to this point. This is simply inhumane at the highest level.
Hopeful_Hamster21@reddit
Agreed.
To your point: people are waking up to the cruelty of captivity That said, I dont think boycotting is the right response from the public. Unfortunately these animals cannot be released... the damage has been done.
If there are laws and regulation in place that stop the capture and breeding programs, boycotting isnt helping.
I, for one, still go to SeaWorld. I appreciate that they've shifted their business model toward roller coasters and amusement rides but are continuing to take care of the animals they have. At this point there are no "good" solutions, only bad, more bad, and less bad.
Suspicious-Waltz4746@reddit
I’m surprised that you understand the cruelty of captivity, yet still support SeaWorld. The entirety of captivity stems from the money flowing to these types of establishments. If the demand stops, the need to capture wild animals to starve, then train, and endure a lifetime of dead fish and tube fed water ends. It’s a dichotomy to say you despise one yet support the other. You can’t support both, no matter the pain that Seaworld, for instance, puts on it. If animals are still in captivity there, or anywhere, then it’s still a captive institution that you’re supporting.
Hopeful_Hamster21@reddit
They cannot be released. That is an unfortunate fact. The damage cannot be undone, only mitigated. They cannot be released; that was tried with tragic results. So the only options are care for them in captivity or euthanasia.
SeaWorld ended their breeding program a decade ago, and they also do not capture wild mammals due to a mix of regulation/laws and public pressure. So there will be no additional animals brought into this situation.
At this point the animals in captivity must remain in captivity. So long as additional animals are not being brought into the park then patronage does not do any additional damage, and the damage that has been done cannot be undone. I would argue that continued patronage helps provide for the care of the existing captive animals. As the park shifts focus to rides and other exhibits, the pressure on the park to mistreat the animals to get them to perform lessens. With luck, I think the best we can hope for is that the current animals live out the remainder of their lives with whatever level of care is available in such a situation.
Suspicious-Waltz4746@reddit
I believe you misread what I said. I’m extraordinarily aware that release isn’t an option. That would be foolish. However there have been successful open seapens for dolphins that were a combination of medical care, feedings, and integration back into the wild. And they were absolutely successful. Tracked dolphins, that left when they felt the time was right, have integrated back into wild populations. It can be done if done correctly.
I cannot stand anywhere near you on your SeaWorld thoughts. It’s smoke and mirrors. While absolutely understand that the animals currently in their care must remain, they are still part of their marketing ad campaigns and a reason that pulls people in. It’s still captivity, no matter how you frame it. If SeaWorld weren’t capitalizing on that fact, the animals wouldn’t be on display nor would they be a part of their marketing. As a matter of fact, I just checked their website and it offers animal interactions. Hence, further capitalization on captivity. No argument you can provide me denies this fact, nor that buying a ticket there supports captivity.