Euthanizing Beluga whales is 'blustery threat': Ex-Marineland employee

(NewsNation) — A Canadian theme park says it may have to put down 30 Beluga whales, but not everyone is buying it.

Last Friday, park management wrote to the federal government requesting a cash infusion by the end of the Tuesday. Though the deadline has passed, the money has not arrived.

A former Marineland whale trainer, Phil Demers, said this is "just blustery threats because they're angry." Demers told NewsNation the alleged anger stems from a recent decision by the Canadian government.

The park’s request to send the whales to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park in China was denied last week. Any export of the whales “would perpetuate the treatment these Belugas have endured.”

Marineland has faced scrutiny in the past for its treatment of animals in its care, according to The Guardian. It has been trying to sell its assets since closing its doors to the public last year and still has the Beluga whales, which are the last captive ones in the country.

"Because this deal ultimately was nixed by the government, this is Marineland's response. ... So it's not a question of finances. This is more bluster and threat," Demers said.

According to the Canadian Press, about 20 whales — one killer and 19 Belugas — have died at Marineland since 2019. That same year, Canada passed a bill that came to be known as the “Free Willy” bill, which made it illegal to hold a whale, dolphin or porpoise captive.

"It's the deteriorating conditions, and especially the quality of water or lack thereof, that's been killing the animals," Demers alleged.

NewsNation's Jordan Perkins contributed to this report.