Echo the dolphin is the fifth cetatean to die after being moved from Canada’s Marineland. Photo: Oceanogafic Valencia
A fifth animal has died after it was transferred from the now-shuttered Marineland, a Canadian park that came under fire for its treatment of its animals. Echo, a 30-year-old blind dolphin, died after she was moved from Marineland to Oceanogràfic València in Spain.
“Echo and the three other dolphins moved to Oceanogràfic València spent their entire lives in a small tank, being forced to perform for Marineland’s profit,” said Camille Labchuk, lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice. “Now Echo has sadly lost her life, a consequence of Marineland’s appalling lack of concern for these animals’ futures.”
Marineland, which was shut down because the general public realized that the animals there were being treated very badly, experienced a final season with no working rides, was convicted of animal cruelty, and incurred huge amounts of debt. Stuck with no income and many whales, dolphins, and plenty of other animals that cost a lot to maintain, the owners called on the Canadian government for a bail out. When that was refused, they threatened to kill 30 beluga whales and four dolphins that they couldn’t afford to keep. That, as you’d imagine, didn’t go over well with anyone at all.
As it turned out, Marineland was able to get permission to re-home the belugas and dolphins in U.S. aquariums in Georgia, Chicago, San Diego and San Antonio, and the Oceanogràfic València aquarium in Spain. Although the animals all made it to their new homes, they began dying pretty quickly.
“The first was 23-year-old female beluga whale Peekachu, followed by Rain, a 20-year-old female – both of whom were housed at the Shedd Aquarium,” wrote The Inertia‘s Cooper Gegan on September 22. “Just last week, a Marineland whale named Jelly Bean died at the Oceanogràfic Valencia.”
Then, just a few days later, a 26-year-old rescued female beluga whale named Osiris died at Shedd Aquarium, as well.
“Everybody failed these dolphins and whales,” Labchuk continued. “Marineland knew for years it was closing, so did the Ontario and federal governments. There was time to plan a real retirement for these animals, developing solutions which held their wellbeing as the chief concern, mitigating the risks of relocation. Instead they were haphazardly rushed out the door under threat of death. Now five of them are dead. This steadily rising body count of whales, and now a dolphin, is absolutely heartbreaking.”
