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The fate of deer and elk at the now-closed Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., remains uncertain, with an animal rights organization fearing some could be bound for slaughterhouses.
Animal Justice is calling for federal and provincial officials to intervene on behalf of the welfare of deer and elk at the once-thriving theme park, which for decades drew families to choreographed shows featuring killer and beluga whales, and dolphins.
Kaitlyn Mitchell, a lawyer and director of legal advocacy for Animal Justice, said the situation is “dire.”
“They’ve [deer and elk] all been forced to live on this property for their entire lives,” Mitchell said in an interview. “They’ve entertained children, they’ve entertained the Ontario public, and now that the site is closed, it seems that no one is looking out for their interests.”
CBC News has learned the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the federal department responsible for the humane transport of animals, has already issued permits allowing the deer and elk to be shipped from Marineland. But both the department and Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services (AWS) were unable or unwilling to say where the animals are headed.
The CFIA said it’s up to Marineland whether to disclose that information.
Concerns about the deer and elk come the same month CBC News reported that Ottawa has approved a rescue plan for the about 30 captive whales that have been living at the park. It closed in 2024 following the death of Marie Holer, wife of John Holer, who founded the park in 1961 and died in 2018.
Animal Justice said there could be hundreds of deer and elk still at the massive Marineland property near Chippawa. The group believes some of the animals may already have been trucked away.
On Wednesday, the property was quiet, with fence gates padlocked and weeds growing through cracks in the main parking lot. No deer or elk could be seen behind chain-link fencing.
CBC News reached out to Marineland to ask how many deer and elk are at the park, if any have been shipped out and, if so, how many and to where, and if any are going to slaughter.
Marineland said in a statement Friday that the deer and elk — also known as cervids, or animals with hoofs and antlers — are owned by, and the responsibility of, a third party.
“All cervids receive constant, routine veterinary care and are subject to regulatory oversight” by AWS and the CFIA, the park said. “Marineland provides the owner with access to their cervids upon request, on the understanding that the owner is complying with all applicable laws. We understand the deer in question [were] under observation and receiving veterinary care.”
Marineland didn’t say how many deer there are, if some have been shipped or where they are going. It didn’t provide the name of the third-party owner.
Two people who said they were trying to get some of the deer shipped to them identified the third-party owner as Mike Hart.
CBC News requested an interview with Hart to discuss his role with the shipment of the animals, where they’re being shipped and if any are bound for slaughter. He declined to comment.
Animal Justice wrote to the CFIA and AWS on June 5, urging them to investigate the well-being and potential transfer of deer and elk. The group said the park intends to be rid of all the animals by July 24.
Alexandra Pester, senior staff lawyer with the group, said in her letter, which has been seen by CBC, that the provincial animal welfare agency has the clear legal power to seize the animals for their well-being and explore options for rehoming them.
Permits issued to move the animals
CBC Niagara also reached out to the CFIA and the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General, which oversees AWS, with questions about the status of the deer and elk, assertions that some may have already been moved and allegations that some could be bound for slaughter.
The CFIA, which is responsible for regulating the shipping of animals, confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it has issued movement permits for cervids housed at Marineland.
“The CFIA is committed to the humane treatment of animals in Canada and takes the issue of animal welfare very seriously,” the agency said.
But it didn’t say where the animals are being shipped to, directing CBC to ask Marineland, which the CFIA said is responsible for determining where the animals are going.
CBC News reached out to the CFIA again on Tuesday to ask how many deer and elk it has approved shipping permits for and to comment on whether some of the animals are scheduled to be slaughtered, as suggested by Animal Justice.
In a statement two days later, the CFIA didn’t give the number of deer and elk approved for shipping. As for suggestions some of the animals could be bound for slaughter, the agency said, “The CFIA does not approve the final destination when animals are being moved. Please contact Marineland who is responsible for determining where the animals are taken.”
The 30 remaining beluga whales at Ontario’s defunct Marineland theme park are one step closer to having new homes. Fisheries and Oceans Canada endorsed a rescue plan that would send the animals to four aquariums in the U.S. and one in Spain.
A lawyer with Agriculture and Food Inspection Legal Services with the Department of Justice Canada, representing CFIA, responded on June 12 to the Animal Justice letter via email to say it’s the responsibility of people transporting animals to ensure they’re fit for transport and ensure that requirements are met for testing for specific diseases.
“The CFIA is monitoring the situation involving the cervids at Marineland, and will implement measures and enforcement action, as appropriate, based on all evidence at the CFIA’s disposal, in accordance with its authorities,” the lawyer said.
Responding to CBC News inquiries, Ministry of the Solicitor General spokesperson Brent Ross said AWS has inspected Marineland more than 250 times since January 2020 to assess standards-of-care compliance under provincial animal welfare legislation.
Questions including about the transport of livestock should be directed to the CFIA, Ross said.
“Further questions about the conditions of the deer and elk should be directed to Marineland.”
Will some deer end up in a wildlife park?
Carole Lyne, who lives near Timmins, Ont., said she was contacted by Marineland two years ago with an offer to give her about 110 red deer.
Lyne and her husband, Lawrence Laramée, built a large compound at considerable cost, only to be contacted by Marineland again in March before the deer were to be shipped to say the deer and elk were by then under the control of Hart, Lyne said.
She said she subsequently entered into negotiations with Hart to obtain a small number of the deer, but that never happened.
Richard Lafleur, owner of Cedar Meadows hotel and wildlife park in Timmins, said he’s working with Hart to have 50 of the deer brought to his park.
