More tragic news is breaking about Marineland Canada, but sadly this morning’s update involves the death of “beloved” beluga whale, Gia, at the troubled park’s Niagara Falls facility.
According to a statement issued by Marineland earlier today, preliminary results of a necropsy indicate the cause of Gia’s sudden death was a twisted small intestine that resulted in a fatal blockage.
Gia, who was born at Marineland, reportedly appeared to be healthy until her passing.
The heartbreaking news follows last week’s shocking turn that all charges against the troubled park had been dropped, after years of ongoing scrutiny and a series of investigations that exposed horrifying treatment of both its marine and land animals.
Prosecutors, as reported in the Toronto Star, said there was “no reasonable chance of conviction on most of the 11 counts” and although the court could have proceeded with three of them related to the peacock, guinea hens and red deer, it “did not believe it was in the public interest to do so, citing potential court costs and a weak case,” despite the evidence that was presented.
Problems at Marineland Canada reached a wide audience back in 2012 after the news outlet published a series of articles detailing the suffering of animals there.
“We are disappointed in the Crown’s decision to drop all charges against Marineland. During a five-month investigation into the theme park, Last Chance for Animals documented an unconscionable level of neglect and complete disregard for the well-being of the land animals under Marineland’s care,” said LCA’s President and Founder Chris DeRose. “The Crown’s decision to drop all charges despite having sufficient evidence to move forward on at least three counts is shameful. It is the government’s responsibility to hold Marineland accountable and enforce existing animal welfare laws.”
“We are extremely disappointed in this outcome and feel that this matter is of public interest as all animals rely on humans for appropriate care for their general welfare and the public demands this,” echoed the Ontario SPCA in a statement.
The organization is encouraging people to voice their concerns about the case to the Ministry of the Attorney General by calling or emailing, and is asking anyone with concerns about the animals at Marineland to report new information to them.
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