Canada’s Marineland has been indicted by police for allegedly organizing illegal whale and dolphin shows for entertainment.
Niagara Regional Police (NRP) opened an investigation in October after receiving complaints that the facility was using its whale and dolphins in for-profit entertainment shows.
Niagara Police said that during the investigation, “it was discovered that dolphins and whales were used for entertainment during the month of August without being allowed to do so as a result of ‘an amendment to the Criminal Code under Bill S-203 on June 21, 2019.. “
On Monday, NRP confirmed to CTV News Toronto that detectives had laid a charge of using captive cetaceans for entertainment without authorization under a license contrary to 445.2 (4) of the Criminal Code.
The Criminal Code provision prohibits the use of captive marine mammals for entertainment or entertainment unless a permit has been authorized by the provincial government.
Representatives from Marineland will appear at the Robert SK Welch courthouse on February 14 to answer the charges.
This is a developing story. More soon…
