Why We Can’t Just “Set Them Free”: The Harsh Reality Behind Marineland’s Threat to Kill 30 Beluga Whales

 In one of the most disturbing animal welfare scandals of recent years, Marineland, a marine park in Niagara Falls, Canada, has issued what can only be described as a hostage-style ultimatum to the government:

provide financial support—or we kill 30 beluga whales.

Yes, you read that correctly.

According to documents revealed by Canadian media, Marineland sent a message to federal fisheries officials saying they don’t have enough money to continue caring for the belugas. Unless the Canadian government intervenes before their deadline, the park says it will have “no choice” but to euthanize the entire beluga population still held at its facility.

This threat shocked the public for several reasons:

Now, instead of taking responsibility, the park is using these animals as leverage—threatening to destroy lives unless it gets money. And while people across the world are saying:

“Then just release them into the ocean—problem solved.”
The painful truth is: it’s not that simple.

Why Not Just Release the Belugas?

1. They may not survive in the wild

Most of these belugas have been in captivity for years—some for their entire lives. They have never learned to: hunt for fish, navigate ocean currents, avoid predators like orcas, migrate long distances.

If we simply dump them into the ocean, many would die within days. Compassion must be paired with realism.

2. Risk of spreading disease

Captive animals are exposed to different bacteria, viruses and parasites than wild populations. Releasing 30 untested belugas could infect wild beluga populations—a potential ecological disaster.

3. They’ve lost natural social behavior

Belugas are extremely social mammals with complex family structures. These captive whales don’t belong to any wild pod anymore. Even if they are released, wild belugas might reject them, leaving them isolated and vulnerable.

4. Logistics and law – release is a long process

A safe release requires: health screenings, rehabilitation and survival training, transition in sea pens, tagging and satellite monitoring, government permits, transportation by ship or plane.

That takes months or even years – and a lot of money. You can’t just open a tank and let 30 whales swim home overnight.

5. Where would they go?

Belugas are native to the Arctic waters—but these 30 whales cannot simply be dumped there without environmental assessment. They must go to a specific natural area that matches their physiology and survival potential.

The Real Solution: Sea Sanctuaries, Not Death or Dumping

Animal welfare experts agree: the most humane plan is to move the belugas to a marine sanctuary—a protected area of ocean where they can live in natural seawater with professional care, without being forced to perform for entertainment. Sanctuaries are not zoos; they are retirement homes for captive marine animals.

Organizations like the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia and Ocean Futures Society have already expressed interest in helping.
The whales can live better lives—but not if Marineland kills them first.

So Who’s Responsible?

  • Marineland is responsible for creating this crisis.

  • The Canadian government is responsible for ensuring the law is enforced.

  • Humanity is responsible for fixing the mistakes we made by imprisoning intelligent ocean life for profit.

These whales didn’t ask to be born in tanks. They didn’t choose a life of captivity. We did this to them. 

The question is not just “What do we do with 30 belugas?”
The real question is:

Do we still have a conscience?

There are only two paths from here: kill them for convenience or fight for a humane future.

Let this moment define us. Not by our cruelty—but by our courage to protect life.

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