Marineland Canada Controversy Continues

​www.newswire.ca/news-releases/marineland-controversy-grows-as-world-animal-protection-urges-groupon-to-stop-profiting-from-venues-that-exploit-animals-893148793.html

Marineland continues to be a source of controversy as it operates despite repeated calls for the park to end its orca / dolphin captivity. The park has faced numerous lawsuits regarding its dolphin shows and in fact, they are currently in court fighting charges regarding a supposed dolphin show during the long weekend back in May. The park repeatedly states that the shows are educational rather than entertainment, exposing loopholes in Ontario's weak and battered animal welfare system that continue to fail animals in favour of profiting off of them.

Now, advocacy group World Animal Protection is targeting organizations like Groupon that continue to sell tickets to parks like Marineland, profiting off of the continued suffering of animals. World Animal Protection is urging companies like Groupon to cut ties with establishments that profit off of animal suffering, helping to stop the park from flourishing and bringing continued attention to the plight of captive dolphins used for our entertainment. 

"As for the educational value of 'dolphin shows', there is little, if any benefit to turning these intelligent, complex animals into props for our entertainment".
Michele Hamers, World Animal Protection Campaign manager

Marineland continuing to operate with little persecution brings to light how broken and ineffective Ontario's animal welfare laws are. In fact, Ontario is reported to have the weakest animal welfare standards in the entire country which doesn't say much as Canada repeatedly falls short on welfare issues. Ontario leaves the handling of exotic animals up to individual municipalities which makes it very easy to slip between the cracks. Marineland is the perfect example; despite being in an ongoing lawsuit over repeated instances of reported animal welfare issues, they continue to operate and flourish. There's no cease in operations while investigations occur, pandering to the park and their profits over the possible suffering of some of the most intelligent creature son our planet.

It's sickening when you think about all of the instances we've reported of wild dolphins helping to rescue humans, small animals, and other predated sea creatures in the wild and all we can do to repay them is throw them in bathtubs and force them to do tricks for crowds of people. These creatures are incredibly smart, social, belong only in oceans where they can thrive. It is completely immoral to have these beautiful mammals in cages. It is completely immoral to have these beautiful mammals performing tricks for crowds of patrons. It is blatant exploitation for profits and blatant animal cruelty to keep dolphins in bathtubs when their natural habitat is the entire ocean.

It is undeniable that orcas & dolphins belong in the ocean. It is undeniable that keeping them in bathtub sized enclosures is animal cruelty. Why is that our province hasn't recognized the perils? Why are our animal welfare laws so confusing and easy to work around? There is so much work to do in Ontario when it comes to animal welfare but what we can do is urge companies like Groupon to stop selling tickets to these establishments. We can continue to speak out against Marineland and continue to expose the blatant animal cruelty. We musn't give up because dolphins & orcas are counting on us to continue this fight.

Head to the link at the top of this post for the original story.

HAPPY VEG