Marineland Canada Marineland Canada News

Aelita said:
There hasn’t exactly been any formal update on her. However in recent years her care team has increased enrichment for her-varying from different EEDs, tactile sessions and more alongside vet care/husbandry-from what I’ve seen on visits and photos by guests/caregivers.
Housing her with belugas would be risky (never done worldwide) , and the dolphins are a lot faster than her. It’s quite complex on whether or not she should be moved as none of us work with her, or know Kiska’s history, but we have to remember that no orca her age has ever been moved. The oldest were Bingo and Stella (KSW to PONA)
A logical step would be bringing in someone for an assessment- such as Animal Welfare Expertise’s Isabella Clegg, who’s done assessments for several marine mammal facilities.
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Marineland have always been really quiet with all their updates in regards to their Orcas. In the past, deaths have gone unannounced and it wasn't until the orcas were noted 'missing' by the general public, that it was found out they had died.

Is there any reasons why Marineland couldn't attempt to move a bottlenose in with Kiska? Unlike the case with Lolita in Miami, Kiska appears to be a relatively easy going and subdominant orca.

It's true that no orcas of her age have ever successfully moved, but it's never been attempted before. I feel like it could work, depending on her health, but that would of course require an Animal welfare vet to come and inspect her first. Lolita has had one recently, which is possibly a precursor to a move that may be planned. Marineland could've already had one come in for all we know.

In regards to where she will be sent to, Seaworld appears to be the leading option. San Diego can't take any more orcas due to legal restrictions, but both Orlando and San Antonio can. San Antonio does have limited space, but may be the best option for her compatibility wise. Orlando on the other hand, does have space, but do have an already well formed, tight bonded pod that is lead by Katina, who can sometimes be brutal to newcomers or those she does not like.
 
Jambo said:
I've heard Marineland's previous owner has died and there were rumours the family was trying to sell the park.
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The old owner died a few years back and there were rumours of Marineland closing down (this is according to Phil Demmers and most things he says should be taken with a grain of salt imo). Supposedly there’s a court case going on about MLC violating the Free Willy bill, which could lead to their closure.
 
Jambo said:
What is the Free Willy bill? Never heard of it.
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Randomname0183 said:
I believe that’s the name given to the bill banning cetaceans in Canada
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The Free Willy Bill (Bill S-203) passed in 2019:

Canada passes ‘Free Willy’ bill to ban captivity of all whales, dolphins

On June 10, Canada’s House of Commons passed a bill that bans the practice of keeping cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in captivity in the country.

Bill S-203 prohibits breeding of the animals and collecting reproductive materials from them. The only exceptions to these provisions will be in cases of rescues and rehabilitation, licensed scientific research, or “in the best interests of the cetacean’s welfare.”

With regards to the facilities in Canada already housing cetaceans:

At the moment, Canada has two facilities that hold whales or dolphins in captivity: the Vancouver Aquarium, which houses a dolphin named Helen, and Marineland at Niagara Falls, which has a single orca named Kiska and more than 50 beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). The bill allows both facilities to continue to keep these cetaceans, but they cannot breed or bring in any new animals.​
 
TheGerenuk said:
Marineland's last two walruses, Smooshi and her calf Koyuk, are scheduled to leave the park. Their destination and date of departure is unknown.
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Hopefully they will remain in North America and not be sent to a park in Asia. There is plenty of room and breeding opportunities in the US for these 2 walrus in addition to the other 2 already announced to be moving to the US from Canada.
 
Jambo said:
Is there any reasons why Marineland couldn't attempt to move a bottlenose in with Kiska? Unlike the case with Lolita in Miami, Kiska appears to be a relatively easy going and subdominant orca.

In regards to where she will be sent to, Seaworld appears to be the leading option. San Diego can't take any more orcas due to legal restrictions, but both Orlando and San Antonio can. San Antonio does have limited space, but may be the best option for her compatibility wise. Orlando on the other hand, does have space, but do have an already well formed, tight bonded pod that is lead by Katina, who can sometimes be brutal to newcomers or those she does not like.
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I know this is an old post and is no longer relevant since Kiska sadly passed away, but I wanted to answer it anyway for those who were curious.

It is no longer recommended by the Marine Mammal Taxon Advisory Group to keep orca with bottlenose dolphins as there have been multiple examples of orca killing or injuring BND, especially calves (although I'm not sure Marineland is part of the group or would care what they say). The main reason I suspect Marineland wouldn't do it is because the BND are Marineland's only performing cetaceans and they only have 5 (all females) so they had none to spare to put with Kiska.



I never thought SW would be a good fit her Kiska. She was retired for years and lived a quiet life, SW would have been too loud and bombastic an environment. Marineland France might have been a better fit as they could have done with another female to even the pod dynamics out a bit and its a more quiet facility. The other whales could have done the shows and Kiska just do the meet and greets or something easy.
 
Sacchi said:
I never thought SW would be a good fit her Kiska. She was retired for years and lived a quiet life, SW would have been too loud and bombastic an environment. Marineland France might have been a better fit as they could have done with another female to even the pod dynamics out a bit and its a more quiet facility. The other whales could have done the shows and Kiska just do the meet and greets or something easy.
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The same could’ve been done at SeaWorld though?

She could’ve had a role similar to the one Tilikum had where they would only have to do some meet and greets (in Seaworld’s case, Dine with the Orcas). Some company would’ve been better than nothing.

Marineland’s pod although it seems ‘quieter’ is definitely not the case. The gender imbalance perhaps leds to a lot of issues, but I just don’t think that’s the right place for Kiska (and same goes for Orlando, where similar things are currently going on).
 
csartie said:
These were 26 year old female bottlenose Sonar and 28 year old male beluga Kodiak, leaving the park with 4 dolphins and 36 belugas according to the Niagara Falls Review
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To be honest I appreciate the park confirming the passings to NFR. I hope that continues moving forward.

It’s very sad to hear of their passings & unfortunately also very complicated given the fact that the cetaceans in Canada are technically on phase out.
 
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