Belugas likely to be rehomed, anyhow. Marineland history suggests not holding breath unless swimming underwater NIAGARA, Ontario––Tentative good news about the fate of animals left by the 2024 closure of Marineland at Niagara Falls was offset within a week by more of the frequent bad news about Marineland that has emerged since Ontario animal advocate […]
Captive dolphin industry going down, so what becomes of the dolphins?
Bankruptcies & liquidations, with sanctuaries not a here-and-now option MEXICO CITY, Mexico; MIAMI, Florida––Not entirely by coincidence, the Mexican-owned Dolphin Company, owner of 30 dolphinariums worldwide, is bankrupt; the Miami Seaquarium, recently operated by The Dolphin Company, appears to be at the end of 70 years of marine mammal exhibition; and the Mexican Chamber of […]
Hvaldimir the Russian beluga “spy whale” dies in Norwegian fjord
Seen apparently alive & well at noon, Hvaldimir was floating dead at 1:00 p.m. OSLO, Norway––Five years of controversy over what to do about Hvaldimir, the alleged escaped Russian beluga “spy whale,” ended abruptly in mid-day, Norwegian time, on August 31, 2024. “Unfortunately, we found Hvaldimir floating in the sea,” marine biologist and Marine […]
Belugas left behind after South Korea bans whale & dolphin captures
Phase-out of marine mammal exhibition appears to be underway SEOUL, South Korea––“Marine mammals are now prohibited from being used for exhibition purposes as well as programs that involve riding or feeding marine mammals,” effective immediately, the South Korean Ministry of Oceans & Fisheries announced on December 14, 2023. “Starting today,” the announcement continued, “aquariums in […]
What killed 18 Marineland of Niagara Falls & Mystic Aquarium belugas?
Whales in captivity have always had high death rates, but this is the worst for belugas ever NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario; MYSTIC, Connecticut––The December 13, 2023 death of a nine-and-a-half-year-old female beluga whale named Kharabali at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut would be just bad news, except Kharabali was the third beluga to die among a […]
Sharkwater maker Rob Stewart, 37, saved five million sharks’ lives
Died after videotaping sharks around wreck of former Canadian flagship KEY WEST, Florida––Sharkwater documentary series filmmaker Rob Stewart, 37, died on January 31, 2017 after his third deep dive of the day to the wreck of the Queen of Nassau, near Alligator Reef off Islamorada, Florida. “Stewart and a small group of divers were […]
Dark day in November for Canada’s embattled marine mammal parks
Both Vancouver Aquarium belugas die; Marineland of Canada hit with cruelty charges VANCOUVER, B.C.; NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario––November 25, 2016 was a bad day for both of Canada’s perennially embattled marine mammal parks, the Vancouver Aquarium and Marineland of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario. On that day the Ontario SPCA filed five cruelty […]