Action Cannot Wait | A Biologic Timeline
There is a strict biological timeline at play here. Thirty belugas and four dolphins sit in unfit, tiny pools at an abandoned park site where 20 whales (19 belugas and Kiska the Orca) have died between 2019 and 2025. (Reference 1)
The animals trapped at Marineland do not have the luxury of bureaucratic delays.
Against the backdrop of a long history of animal neglect, abuse and exploitation, Marineland’s facade of action (Reference 2) is far from satisfying the large, growing, and outspoken demands for immediate and transparent actions in the care of these animals.
Frustration is reaching a boiling point in Niagara Falls and globally with no clear progress on the fate of these stranded individuals. (Reference 3)
While animal welfare groups are standing by, ready to mobilize and rescue, they are being met with a wall of silence, not collaboration. In the face of multiple complex rescue and transport procedures, all requiring extensive, intense, and cross-continent planning…the data blackout is being allowed to continue.
200 Visits. Zero Answers.
Ontario’s Animal Welfare Service (AWS) has visited the decaying Marineland site over 200 times since 2020. (Reference 4) That is roughly three visits every single month for the past six years.
Ms. Melanie Milczynski, Chief Animal Welfare Inspector, has explicitly stated that her organization is looking to be more "proactive in telling our story" and increasing transparency in high-interest cases. She has acknowledged that cases generating a high level of interest—specifically referencing the Marineland probe—are instances where being "more communicative in a timely manner" is helpful. (Reference 5)
We are holding her to that promise: Where are the reports?
The coordination of this rescue will require hundreds of individuals across many varied teams. Now is the time for data sharing, rescue preparation, and strategy planning. The data blackout is a core primary barrier to the life-saving measures these animals deserve.
Where is Larry?
Our data tracker indicates a disturbing trend: Larry is missing.
A report from @UrgentSeas suggests (Reference 6) that all pinnipeds (seals & sea lions) are now gone from the site. We know Holly and Maui arrived safely in Vancouver —but where is Larry?
Larry the harbour seal was already struggling with health issues from years of neglect. (Reference 7) If he has died, we want the opportunity to mourn him as a community. If he is still at Marineland - let’s get him out soon.
Beyond the cetaceans and the pinnipeds, what about the hundreds of deer and the bears? Recent drone footage shows the deer fields still occupied. (Reference 8) Why are these terrestrial animals—with significantly easier transportation logistics—still trapped?
Call for Next AWS Inspection: Demand Public Results
The PAWS framework is complaint-driven.
Under Ontario’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act, inspections are a mix of proactive, risk-based visits and reactive inspections or investigations in response to welfare concerns. Crucially, the province does not require a fixed minimum number of annual inspections for any facility.
Does this mean if we complain, they will inspect? YES.
The PAWS framework is complaint-driven. Public pressure is the legal trigger for oversight. AWS has stated that “all concerns about Marineland submitted to AWS are reviewed and assessed.”
We are calling for an immediate inspection to be completed AND the results to be made public—specifically the data that enables a Search and Rescue operation:
- Species & Count: Exactly who remains on the site?
- Demographics: The sex and age of each individual.
- Health Status: Who is clinically fit for immediate transportation?
Expectation for Governmental Leadership
The neglect, abuse, and exploitation of the animals trapped at the Marineland site is injurious to the entire community—those nearby, those who have known its history, the active teams caring for these animals, the animal care and welfare teams preparing rescue and care, as well as the global advocates watching from afar.
Please join the call for an immediate AWS inspection with public results. We’ve compiled links and resources to make it easy to reach out on behalf of these animals. Reach out to these officials:
- Mayor Jim Diodati:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Facebook - MPP Wayne Gates:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Minister of Natural Resources, Mike Harris:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Chief Animal Welfare Inspector - Animal Welfare Services (AWS), Melanie Milczynski (Animal Welfare Services):
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Executive Assistant to the Chief Inspector - Animal Welfare Services (AWS), Christina Tenuta:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Senior Compliance Inspector - Animal Welfare Services (AWS), Alanna Gotziaman:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Solicitor General, Michael Kerzner (AWS Oversight):
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Premier Doug Ford:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |+1 416-325-1941 | Web Contact Form | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Join World Animal Protection, Canada in this protest letter to Premier Doug Ford and his ministers.
#ColoringPageCampaign: Break the Silence
This week’s coloring page (The Beluga Pod) is your tool to demand action.
- Download: Get your sea lion or beluga coloring page.
- Post and Tag: Share your page and tag your community.
- Tell Your Story: How are you memorializing these animals? Let us know! We want to celebrate your work with you and help amplify your efforts.
Coming Up: Community Grief Vigil — Details to follow.