Marineland: Killer whale bleeding for months, trainer says

From the Toronto Star: Kiska, the killer whale, swims alone in her pool at Marineland, often followed by a trail of her own blood. Her tail has been bleeding off and on since July but has been getting progressively worse, according to Christine Santos, who has been one of Kiska’s primary trainers. She described the…

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From the first tee to the falls

From the Toronto Star: For the residents of the new Thundering Waters community in Niagara Falls, it will always be a short walk to the falls or — in the other direction — to the first tee. Located just over a kilometre west of the falls, this two-phase 171-lot community of single-family homes and townhomes…

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Marineland stormed by protesters

Sounds there was quite a bit of excitement at Marineland on Sunday! From the Toronto Star: The last day of Marineland’s operating season drew hundreds of protesters outside the Niagara tourist attraction’s gates on Sunday and escalated when about 150 people stormed inside, yelling “shut it down.” Organizers said they hadn’t planned to enter the…

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Marineland agrees to external water-quality inspections

From the Toronto Star: Marineland must “thoroughly update” its water quality protocols to ensure it has a healthy environment for marine mammals in the wake of a Star investigation. In an interim report Wednesday, the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums said studies of water quality logs and animal health records “raise questions” about how…

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Inspectors take only a day, give Marineland a clean bill of health

From the Toronto Star: It took only a day for inspectors to give Marineland the thumbs-up in the wake of a Star investigation and public complaints about animal care at the Niagara Falls facility. In a recent Starseries, former trainers blamed chronic health issues among sea mammals, including the recent death of a baby beluga,…

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Marineland: Allegations of poor treatment of deer, bears

From the Toronto Star: After an extensive Toronto Star investigation into the treatment of sea life at Marineland, serious allegations are now being levelled about the diet and conditions of its land animals. Casual brutality when animals need to be put down is common and substandard enclosures are prevalent, according to Jim Hammond, the former…

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Marineland: At Niagara Falls attraction, it’s business as usual

From the Toronto Star: The crowd before her roars as Buttercup waddles onto the stage on this late Wednesday afternoon at Marineland’s King Waldorf’s Stadium. The centre of attention, the 900-kilogram walrus twists around and wags her flippers at her trainer’s call, sending people in the nearly packed bleachers clapping and cheering even louder for…

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Former Marineland staff ‘sickened’ by park’s explanations

From the Toronto Star: Brendan Kelly left after his shift last week as MC of the stadium show at Marineland, and hasn’t gone back. The grinning guy in the bright red shirt who invited children to feed the dolphins couldn’t take it anymore. “I can’t go back now. I just can’t face being that happy…

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Singer who sang Marineland jingle says she’s ‘shocked’ by allegations of animal neglect at Marineland

From Bullet News Niagara: Juno Award-nominated singer Suzie McNeil, who sang the catchy jingle used in the familiar Marineland commercials, says she’s “shocked” by the allegations of animal neglect as made public in an investigative series published Wednesday and Thursday in The Toronto Star. In a statement sent to Bullet News by her publicist, McNeil…

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Marineland animals suffering, former staffers say

From the Toronto Star: Larry lies behind bars in a pen, his eyes red and swollen. The harbour seal with “an amazing little personality” who arrived at Marineland about eight years ago is now a shadow of his former self. After repeated exposure to unhealthy water, he has gone blind. Larry isn’t the only sea…

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