Marineland (Ontario)

This article is about the theme park in Ontario. For other uses, see Marineland.
Marineland of Canada Inc.

Official logo of Marineland
Slogan Everyone Loves Marineland!
Location Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates 43°03′56″N 79°04′21″W / 43.06556°N 79.07250°W / 43.06556; -79.07250Coordinates: 43°03′56″N 79°04′21″W / 43.06556°N 79.07250°W / 43.06556; -79.07250
Owner John Holer
Opened 1961
Previous names Marine Wonderland and Animal Park; Marineland and Game Farm
Operating season May – October
Rides
Total 15
Roller coasters 2
Website Official site
A 1967 flyer for Marineland, using the older name "Marineland and Game Farm"

Marineland (official name Marineland of Canada Inc.)[1] is a themed amusement park and a zoological institute for both marine and land animals, in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Owing to its proximity to the falls and other natural park areas and its blend of animals and rides, it is one of the main tourist destinations in Niagara Falls, Canada.[2]

History

The park was founded by John Holer, a Slovenian immigrant who had worked for circuses in Europe before coming to Canada in the late 1950s.[3] It first opened in 1961 as "Marine Wonderland and Animal Farm".[3][4] Holer welded two large steel tanks together and brought in three sea lions and charged one quarter for admission and another to feed the animals.[3] The attraction also featured an underwater show featuring two female swimmers.[5] In 1964 Holer added two dolphins, along with a few other animals and the attraction became known as "Marineland And Game Farm".[5] By 1966, a 2,000 seat "aquatheatre" was completed along with a "grotto" of aquariums and shops.[5] In the 1970s Kandu the killer whale became the park's major attraction and the "And Game Farm" part of the name was dropped, although it was still referred to as "Marineland And Game Farm" until the late 1970s in television and radio advertisements. It was also around this time that the park began adding rides such as Dragon Mountain to encourage teenagers and younger children.

Future

Marineland has plans for a 20-acre (81,000 m2) aquarium complex featuring a shark exhibit, dolphin habitat, ocean reef and freshwater fish. A five-kilometre boat ride on a man-made river and a five-kilometre wilderness steam locomotive train ride are also planned. Although the boat ride and locomotive ride were to be completed over 20 years ago, plans still exist to complete these attractions.[2]

On May 28, 2015, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario passed the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Act, which prohibits the acquisition or breeding of Orcas in Ontario.[6][7]

Operating season

Marineland is open from the Victoria Day weekend through to Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in October. Rides operate until nightfall.[8]

Services

Animal exhibits

Living arrangements are:

A (Front) Pool: 11: Burnaby, Eve, Horus, Jellybean, Orion, Qila, Neva, Mira, Gia, Osiris and Tuk

B (Side) Pool: 1 Kiska

C Medical Pool: Open to Kiska

Living arrangements are:

"A" (Front) Pool: 27: Jubilee& Uba, Sierra and Frankie, Xena and Xavier, Meeka and Ruby, Cleo and Yara, Peekachu and Wink, Andre, Kodiak, Caspian, Tank, Isis and Titan, Skyla and Jetta, Rose and Ivy, Acadia and Sahara, Aurora and Kharabali and Talia

"B" (Side/Baby Cove) Pool 10: Gemini and Calf, Secord and Calf, Rain and Calf, Lillooet and Calf, Kelowna and Calf

"C" Medical Pool: 0: Empty,

Living Arrangements:

Left (Side) Pool: Dolphins: 5: Tsunami, Echo, Lida, Sonar and Marina

Right (Side) Pool: Beluga Whales: 2: Charmin and Tofino

Backstage: Female California SeaLions: 5: Holly, Malibu, Sydney, Maui, Cleveland

Backstage: Walruses: Buttercup, Apollo, Sonja, Zeus and Smooshi

Harbor Seals: 6: Curry, Poppy, Baby, Squamish Larry and Rolo (located back stage)

California Sealions: 3: Pebbles, Coral, Surfer

Grey Seal: Delphine

California Sealions: 5: Holly, Malibu, Sydney, Maui, Cleveland

Walruses: 5: Apollo, Smooshi, Sonja, Zeus and Buttercup Dolphins(winter): 5: Lida, Echo, Tsunami, Sonar, and Marina

Rides

Controversies

Marineland and its owner John Holer have been involved in many controversies throughout the park's history. Most have centered around the concerns of animals rights activists and some politicians, who have expressed concerns about the treatment of animals at the park for many years.

In 1977, The U.S. Department of Fisheries seized six bottlenose dolphins that had been illegally caught by John Holer in the Gulf of Mexico.[3]

In 2001, a member of Parliament, Libby Davies, tabled a private member's bill which aimed to ban the live-capture and trade of whales and dolphins.[13] The Department of Fisheries and Oceans commissioned a scientific study, but Minister Herb Dhaliwal chose not to act on any of the recommendations.

In September 2011, SeaWorld won a court battle with Marineland over the fate of Ikaika The Killer Whale. Ikaika had been originally loaned to Marineland under the terms of a breeding loan agreement between the two organizations, but SeaWorld decided to terminate the agreement due to concerns about Ikaika's mental and physical well-being due to deteriorating conditions at the park. Marineland initially refused to return Ikaika, but was eventually ordered to by the Ontario Superior Court as well as pay $255,000 in compensation to SeaWorld for legal expenses.[14]

On August 15, 2012, the Toronto Star published an article alleging that many sea mammals at Marineland live in inhumane conditions and suffer from a variety of illnesses caused by problems with water quality and chronic under-staffing. John Holer denied the allegations in the report, which was largely based on interviews conducted with former Marineland employees.[15]

On September 10, 2012 the Toronto Star published an article quoting former Marineland supervisor Jim Hammond alleging that Marineland owner, John Holer, had shot one of the baby deer in his park through the windpipe with a 12-gauge shotgun, leaving it to choke on its blood without dying. Hammond claimed the park owner refused his pleas for humane euthanasia.[16]

On December 20, 2012 the Ontario Ministry of the Environment announced an investigation into several mass animal graves at the park. The ministry had no previous knowledge of the graves, as Marineland lacks permits for such use.[17]

On March 5, 2013, the Toronto Star published an article quoting Hammond and a local resident alleging that John Holer had shot two Labrador Retrievers that had escaped a neighbour's house and entered Marineland property. The article also mentioned that Hammond was told by Holer “to check if there were any collars . . . around their necks and if there were, to remove them.” [18]

Beluga whale deaths

A beluga whale died in 2000.[19]

Sasha, a beluga whale born in 2008 at Marineland died around Oct. 10th 2011, several days before the off season.

In May 2012, a 9-month old beluga, Scoot, born to Skyla, succumbed to its injuries after a two-hour attack by two adult males in a shared tank. Only an untrained guide was on hand to try to stop the attack. It took trainers two hours to arrive to the aid of the baby beluga. By that time, the calf had already died.

Charlotte and Luna, two calves born to Kelowna and Lilloet in 2009 and 2012 respectively, died in November 2012 and late 2013 respectively. Charlotte had a rare metabolic disorder, and the cause of Luna's death is still unknown.

Killer whale deaths

The following is a list of dead killer whales who were at Marineland:

Ontario College of Veterinarians investigation

In September 2013, it was reported that the Ontario College of Veterinarians was investigating an unspecified number of veterinarians at Marineland.[31]

Advertising

Marineland's main advertising comes through a series of commercials with the jingle "Everyone Loves Marineland".

Marineland has also used other slogans over the years in its advertising.

"Come to Marineland" - (1980-1985) "Where the Fun Never Stops" - (1986-1988) "Happiness is Marineland" - (1987-1991) "Everyone Loves Marineland" - (1992–present)

References

  1. ↑ "Marineland of Canada Inc. Privacy Protection Policy". Marineland.ca. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  2. 1 2 "Niagara Falls Attractions". The Toronto Times. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Casey, Liam (October 3, 2011). "The man behind Marineland: 50 years of controversy". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Attraction is being expanded". Reading Eagle. July 18, 1976. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "Niagara Exhibit plans call for big expansion". Windsor Star. August 28, 1970. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  6. ↑ http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=3213&detailPage=bills_detail_the_bill. Retrieved 13 June 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ "Ont. passes killer whale ban, other animal protection measures". ctvnews.ca. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Marineland Canada - Niagara Falls Tour Guide". Niagara Falls Kiosk. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  9. ↑ "Marineland Canada - Niagara Falls Aquarium - Amusement Park". Clifton Hill Resorts. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  10. ↑ "Marineland Canada". Destination 360. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  11. ↑ "Dragon Mountain Roller Coaster". ultimaterollercoaster.com. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  12. ↑ "Thrilling Rides". visiting-niagara-falls.com. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  13. ↑ "Ndp's libby davies to table motion to ban the trade of marine mammals". Coalition for No Whale in Captivity. Retrieved 2001-03-30.
  14. ↑ "Send killer whale back to Florida, court tells Marineland | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  15. ↑ "Marineland animals suffering, former staffers say | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  16. ↑ "Marineland: Allegations of poor treatment of deer, bears | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  17. ↑ "Marineland: Environment ministry launches probe into mass animal graves | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 2012-12-20. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  18. ↑ "Marineland owner John Holer shot dead neighbours’ dogs, according to witnesses | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  19. ↑ "Abstract: Third whale dies at Marineland; Animal rights groups call for moratorium on imports". August 19, 2000. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  20. ↑
  21. ↑ Archived March 11, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ "~Orca Spirit~". ~Orca Spirit~. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  23. ↑ Archived March 11, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Marineland Cetacean Inventory" (PDF). zoocheck.com. Zoocheck Canada. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  26. ↑ Archived March 11, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ↑ Archived March 11, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ Archived March 11, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ↑ Archived March 11, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ "More Whales Die at Marineland". CFHS. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  31. ↑ Diebel, Linda (13 September 2013). "Marineland: College investigating Marineland veterinarians". Toronto Star. Retrieved 15 September 2013.

External links

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