Marineland guilty of providing insufficient care to 3 black bears

The charges against Marineland of Canada were laid in 2021 due to the inadequate living conditions they provided for three young black bears. The bears were kept in cramped enclosures without proper amenities like climbing structures or access to permanent water structures.

The conditions were so poor, Ontario's Animal Welfare Services declared the bears in distress and ordered Marineland to improve the conditions.  
Marineland failed to make necessary changes, resulting in the Crown seizing the bears and relocating them to sanctuaries.

Marineland pleaded not guilty to the charges initially, arguing that since the bears were relocated, they did meet the 2021 orders. The court disagreed.

This is the first time that Marineland has been found guilty for inadequately taking care of the bears, but it’s certainly not the first time that they have been charged for not complying to federal and provincial animal welfare and cruelty regulations. 

The court decision reinforces why Marineland should not be able to own any wildlife. The organization was ordered to make changes, and they neglected to do so. How many more examples are needed before Marineland is shut down once and for all?

We commend Animal Welfare Services for bringing forward charges, but acknowledge there are limited resources to properly enforce what limited captive wildlife laws and regulations exist in Ontario.

The captive wildlife system is broken and allows bad actors like Marineland to continue operating with no real consequences.

It’s why we’re calling on the provincial government to implement stronger regulations and enforcement to protect the health and welfare of the remaining animals at Marineland and in other underregulated zoos and facilities across Ontario.

- Michèle Hamers, Wildlife Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection