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Complaint Filed Over Treatment of Kiska at Marineland

Phil Demers

Animal rights group calls Kiska the loneliest whale in the world

An animal rights group has asked the Ontario government to look into Marineland's treatment of its lone killer whale Kiska.

Animal Justice has filed a complaint with the province's Solicitor General alleging the Niagara Falls park is subjecting the whale to conditions that fail to meet her physical and mental needs which the group says is against the law.

This comes after former Marineland animal trainer turned whistleblower, Phil Demers, posted a pair of videos showing Kiska floating listlessly in her tank.

In a release Animal Justice says " Kiska is the only orca in the world who lives in captivity without other whales or dolphins for companions. She was captured in Iceland in 1979 at around three years of age, purchased by Marineland, and has lived without any other orca companions since 2011."

It is illegal to keep whales and dolphins in captivity in Canada, but as Animal Justice points out the animals at Marineland were exempted from the law due to the practical challenges of relocating them. 

But the group notes, provincial animal welfare inspectors have the authority to take remedial action to protect Kiska and the other animals held at the park.

Meantime the story has reignited an old petition on change.org entitled Free Kiska.

The petition now has over 16,000 signatures.

Click here to view the petition 

Click here to view the full media release from Animal Justice

Marineland recently fought than dropped an appeal of an order by provincial animal welfare inspectors that it make improvements to the water quality in the tanks holding its marine mammals.

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