Latest news with #PhilDemers
CBC
20-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Still-shuttered Marineland puts its amusement park rides up for sale
Marineland, the still-shuttered Niagara Falls aquarium and theme park where 18 beluga whales have died since 2019, has put its rides up for sale. News of the rides being on the market was published Tuesday in Amusement Today, an industry publication. It comes as animal advocates continue to express concerns about living conditions for the numerous water and land mammals still at Marineland, which has not indicated plans to open this summer. "For decades, Marineland has been home to a collection of beloved rides that have brought joy to millions of guests," stated a news release posted on Amusement Today. "As the park evolves, it is now offering buyers the opportunity to own a piece of amusement park history. The sale includes a range of classic attractions, from thrill rides to family-friendly [favourites]." It states the rides will be sold to amusement operators, entertainment companies and "qualified buyers." CBC Hamilton reached out to Marineland but did not hear back before publication. Bill Ossim, of the company Rides Plus, LLC, confirmed to Radio-Canada he had been contracted by Marineland to sell its rides. 'Still animals there' Phil Demers, a former Marineland walrus trainer who has been campaigning against the facility since 2012, says it's looking less and less like the park will ever open again. CBC has previously reported that according to a local employment office, Marineland was not hiring any seasonal employees this year. The park also has a registered lobbyist to help the company obtain permits to export animals from the federal government. It also recently sold an office building. The company has not publicly confirmed whether it plans to close permanently. It told CBC earlier this month "no final decision has been made" on whether it will open this season. On Friday, its phone number listed on its website remained out of service. Demers said he wouldn't be surprised if the company tried to quietly fade away. "There might not even be an announcement," said Demers, who was sued by his former employer in 2013. The company alleged Demers trespassed and plotted to steal the 800-pound walrus he used to train, Smooshi. Demers filed a counterclaim, also in 2013, for defamation and abuse of process, he told CBC Hamilton. "It does seem a bit surreal," he said on Thursday. "Every once in a while you have to remind yourself there's still animals there." He said the remaining aquatic animals that live there include 31 beluga whales, four dolphins, two sea lions and three seals – including one named Larry. There are also numerous red deer, fallow deer, elk and bears, he said, noting he plans to keep monitoring and speaking out on behalf of the facility's animals "until that place is dust ... I'm married to that place in a weird sense." New complaint filed against park Advocacy group Animal Justice filed a complaint with Ontario's Animal Welfare Services (AWS) on June 11. It said in a news release about the complaint that it has seen drone footage, posted on Instagram, that shows about four dolphins "circling a cramped tank" next to where a stage is being demolished. "Marine mammal welfare experts who reviewed the video say the noise, vibrations, and disruption from the demolition activity would likely cause the animals' psychological suffering, adding to the harm caused by years of confinement, lack of enrichment, and inconsistent care," Animal Justice's statement. In response to the complaint, as seen by CBC Hamilton, AWS told Animal Justice it has inspected Marineland more than 220 times since January 2020. The province declared in 2021 that all marine mammals at the park were in distress due to poor water, but told The Canadian Press last year the water issue had been brought up to standard. AWS has not shared details publicly about its enforcement and no charges appear to have been laid against Marineland related to its aquatic mammals. Last year, Marineland was found guilty under Ontario's animal cruelty laws over its care of three young black bears. AWS also said in its response that it is not involved in any rumoured plans to relocate Marineland's animals, but that it continues to monitor the site. "The ministry also has experts who provide us with advice on marine mammals, their living conditions and their health and welfare," it said. "Please be assured that the government continues to look at ways to make sure that the animals at Marineland continue to receive the care they need."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Luxury hotel attraction shut down after 'living nightmare' in pool exposed
Disturbing video highlights the 'nightmare' conditions where a pair of dolphins have been housed for the amusement of cashed-up tourists. In the wild, the animals could travel up to 100km in a day, but instead they were kept in two concrete tanks no bigger than swimming pools. Heartbreakingly, the tanks at the Mexican hotel where they were confined were just metres from the Caribbean Sea near Cancún, a holiday destination popular with foreign travellers. Conditions at Dolphinaris Barceló at Barceló Maya Grand Resort were so concerning that this week it was ordered shut, and its gates were sealed by the government's environment protection agency PROFEPA. Outspoken activist Phil Demers has repeatedly shared aerial footage of the dolphins on his Urgent Seas social media channels and called for their release. Speaking with Yahoo News on Friday, he said the dolphins had been living in shadeless pens that were 'very shallow'. 'It was a living nightmare for all of the dolphins there. The size was disproportionately small for what they needed. It was absurd, frankly,' he said. 'One of the great tragedies is the contrast of the size of their pool against the vast ocean, which is just metres away. Conditions were awful.' An investigation into the facility was launched after a shocking moment at the park that was broadcast across social media in February, 2025 highlighting to the world how small the tanks were. Filmed five years ago and then stashed away, it showed a dolphin attempting to perform a trick, misjudging the edge of the pool, and then crashing onto the edge. That animal survived, and was moved to another facility, but he is now blind in one eye and has just 60 per cent vision in the other due to keratitis — a condition that causes inflammation of the cornea. PROFEPA said the facility in southwest Mexico's Quintana Roo had been closed due to 'various operational irregularities". They included a failure to report "dangerous incidents", acrobatic performances that endanger animals, unregulated water temperature, forcing animals to complete tricks when unwell, and problems with water temperature. BREAKING: The dolphin tank at Hotel Barcelo in Riviera Maya, Mexico has been permanently closed. Thank you to all the tireless advocates who fought so hard for this resolve. Now we must ensure the dolphins are responsibly removed and relocated. More to come. — @UrgentSeas (@urgentseas) May 13, 2025 Demers said the outcome highlights both the power of social media and the work of activists who protested there every day. 'This has gone on for far too long, but credit to the activists who never gave up. Sometimes there were only one or two protesters out front, but they never gave up,' he said. Now that the facility has been closed, the focus is turning to what happens to the dolphins. The most likely outcome is that they will be moved to another facility, sparking fresh concerns that their lives will continue down a sad path. 🥫 Airline passenger request raises questions about popular menu items 😳 Warning as massive Aussie predator spotted near popular children's playground 🤠 Deadly find on roadside in beachside suburb sparks wild theory According to Demers, the closure of Dolphinaris Barceló tells a much bigger story about the failure of dolphin parks. Last year, US-based Miami Seaquarium was ordered to close following an investigation by authorities, while Marineland Antibes permanently shut its doors due to declining attendance and improved animal welfare regulations in France. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Luxury hotel shuts down attraction after 'living nightmare' in pool exposed
Disturbing video highlights the 'nightmare' conditions where a pair of dolphins have been housed for the amusement of cashed-up tourists. In the wild, the animals could travel up to 100km in a day, but instead they were kept in two concrete tanks no bigger than swimming pools. Heartbreakingly, the tanks at the Mexican hotel where they were confined were just metres from the Caribbean Sea near Cancún, a holiday destination popular with foreign travellers. Conditions at Dolphinaris Barceló at Barceló Maya Grand Resort were so concerning that this week it was ordered shut, and its gates were sealed by the government's environment protection agency PROFEPA. Outspoken activist Phil Demers has repeatedly shared aerial footage of the dolphins on his Urgent Seas social media channels and called for their release. Speaking with Yahoo News on Friday, he said the dolphins had been living in shadeless pens that were 'very shallow'. 'It was a living nightmare for all of the dolphins there. The size was disproportionately small for what they needed. It was absurd, frankly,' he said. 'One of the great tragedies is the contrast of the size of their pool against the vast ocean, which is just metres away. Conditions were awful.' An investigation into the facility was launched after a shocking moment at the park that was broadcast across social media in February, 2025 highlighting to the world how small the tanks were. Filmed five years ago and then stashed away, it showed a dolphin attempting to perform a trick, misjudging the edge of the pool, and then crashing onto the edge. That animal survived, and was moved to another facility, but he is now blind in one eye and has just 60 per cent vision in the other due to keratitis — a condition that causes inflammation of the cornea. PROFEPA said the facility in southwest Mexico's Quintana Roo had been closed due to 'various operational irregularities". They included a failure to report "dangerous incidents", acrobatic performances that endanger animals, unregulated water temperature, forcing animals to complete tricks when unwell, and problems with water temperature. BREAKING: The dolphin tank at Hotel Barcelo in Riviera Maya, Mexico has been permanently closed. Thank you to all the tireless advocates who fought so hard for this resolve. Now we must ensure the dolphins are responsibly removed and relocated. More to come. — @UrgentSeas (@urgentseas) May 13, 2025 Demers said the outcome highlights both the power of social media and the work of activists who protested there every day. 'This has gone on for far too long, but credit to the activists who never gave up. Sometimes there were only one or two protesters out front, but they never gave up,' he said. Now that the facility has been closed, the focus is turning to what happens to the dolphins. The most likely outcome is that they will be moved to another facility, sparking fresh concerns that their lives will continue down a sad path. 🥫 Airline passenger request raises questions about popular menu items 😳 Warning as massive Aussie predator spotted near popular children's playground 🤠 Deadly find on roadside in beachside suburb sparks wild theory According to Demers, the closure of Dolphinaris Barceló tells a much bigger story about the failure of dolphin parks. Last year, US-based Miami Seaquarium was ordered to close following an investigation by authorities, while Marineland Antibes permanently shut its doors due to declining attendance and improved animal welfare regulations in France. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Luxury hotel closed down after 'living nightmare' in pool exposed
Disturbing video highlights the 'nightmare' conditions where a pair of dolphins have been housed for the amusement of cashed-up tourists. In the wild, the animals could travel up to 100km in a day, but instead they were kept in two concrete tanks no bigger than swimming pools. Heartbreakingly, the tanks at the Mexican hotel where they were confined were just metres from the Caribbean Sea near Cancún, a holiday destination popular with foreign travellers. Conditions at Dolphinaris Barceló at Barceló Maya Grand Resort were so concerning that this week it was ordered shut, and its gates were sealed by the government's environment protection agency PROFEPA. Outspoken activist Phil Demers has repeatedly shared aerial footage of the dolphins on his Urgent Seas social media channels and called for their release. Speaking with Yahoo News on Friday, he said the dolphins had been living in shadeless pens that were 'very shallow'. 'It was a living nightmare for all of the dolphins there. The size was disproportionately small for what they needed. It was absurd, frankly,' he said. 'One of the great tragedies is the contrast of the size of their pool against the vast ocean, which is just metres away. Conditions were awful.' An investigation into the facility was launched after a shocking moment at the park that was broadcast across social media in February, 2025 highlighting to the world how small the tanks were. Filmed five years ago and then stashed away, it showed a dolphin attempting to perform a trick, misjudging the edge of the pool, and then crashing onto the edge. That animal survived, and was moved to another facility, but he is now blind in one eye and has just 60 per cent vision in the other due to keratitis — a condition that causes inflammation of the cornea. PROFEPA said the facility in southwest Mexico's Quintana Roo had been closed due to 'various operational irregularities". They included a failure to report "dangerous incidents", acrobatic performances that endanger animals, unregulated water temperature, forcing animals to complete tricks when unwell, and problems with water temperature. BREAKING: The dolphin tank at Hotel Barcelo in Riviera Maya, Mexico has been permanently closed. Thank you to all the tireless advocates who fought so hard for this resolve. Now we must ensure the dolphins are responsibly removed and relocated. More to come. — @UrgentSeas (@urgentseas) May 13, 2025 Demers said the outcome highlights both the power of social media and the work of activists who protested there every day. 'This has gone on for far too long, but credit to the activists who never gave up. Sometimes there were only one or two protesters out front, but they never gave up,' he said. Now that the facility has been closed, the focus is turning to what happens to the dolphins. The most likely outcome is that they will be moved to another facility, sparking fresh concerns that their lives will continue down a sad path. 🥫 Airline passenger request raises questions about popular menu items 😳 Warning as massive Aussie predator spotted near popular children's playground 🤠 Deadly find on roadside in beachside suburb sparks wild theory According to Demers, the closure of Dolphinaris Barceló tells a much bigger story about the failure of dolphin parks. Last year, US-based Miami Seaquarium was ordered to close following an investigation by authorities, while Marineland Antibes permanently shut its doors due to declining attendance and improved animal welfare regulations in France. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
The world's saddest dolphins: Tragic footage shows pair left behind in dirty pool after Mexican aquarium shuts down
An aquarium has been forced to close in Mexico after the appalling treatment of dolphins was exposed. Phil Demers, director of UrgentSeas, says the mammals were being imprisoned in small, dirty pools at the Dolphinarium at Hotel Barceló. Videos captured by the non-profit organisation, which works to expose cruel captive dolphin and whale facilities, two dolphins swimming aimlessly round the subpar facilities. UrgentSeas say they were first contacted about the horrific conditions at Dolphinaris Barcel?, in Quintana Roo, months ago, but that authorities failed to take action. The park was only shut down after the organisation's videos of the dolphins sparked public outrage, according to Demers. 'We were first alerted about the conditions months ago as we learned that authorities were allowing for repeated violations to continue at the park,' the 47-year-old said. 'Once we saw the conditions for ourselves, we knew we had to make some noise to expose the issues. The park was only shut down after the organisation's videos of the dolphins sparked public outrage, according to Demers 'The conditions were unacceptable - so much so that we felt compelled to act. 'We started publishing videos, which went immediately viral, causing a major public outrage. 'The reaction was powerful. 'Their social media accounts were inundated with negative reviews and comments, and authorities were called to take actual action. 'Authorities were finally forced to shut down the awful tank, which had been our long goal. 'We are ecstatic that authorities have taken this action.' The concrete pool where the animals live is located mere feet from the Caribbean Sea and is just over six feet deep, leaving the dolphins exposed to constant sunlight — which experts say can burn their skin. UrgentSeas had been calling for a boycott and for the release of the dolphins, which it says are being held in 'Latin America's smallest dolphin tank'. In February, a video shared by UrgentSeas on social media shows three captive dolphins leaping from the water as lifejacket-clad tourists look on. One of the dolphins, however, appears to miscalculate its jump and misjudge the edge of its enclosure, landing painfully on the edge of the pool. The animal remains motionless as trainers rush to its aid, sparking concerns about its well-being. The owners of the aquarium were reportedly fined 7.5million pesos - around £290,000. Shockingly, the hotel was reportedly charging guests $129 - around £97 - for a 30-minute interactive experience with the dolphins when it was operating. 'Step into a breezy open-air palapa to check in, then spend the rest of your experience surrounded by tropical paradise while you interact with the dolphins and learn how to care for the oceans surrounding the Riviera Maya,' a website promoting the experiences read. 'For your comfort, you'll also find amenities like locker rental, changing rooms, showers, and photo/video services.' PROFEPA, the Federal Attorney's Office for Environmental Protection, said: 'Profepa imposed the definitive total closure of the Dolphinaris Barcel? establishment in Quintana Roo, due to various irregularities in its operation. 'Including: lack of dignified treatment, failure to report dangerous incidents, performance of acrobatics that put the specimens at risk and are not authorised in the management plan, among the causes.' Attorney General Mariana Boy Tamborrell added: 'Profepa wants to emphasize that any facility that manages marine mammals has a series of responsibilities imposed by law and must fully comply with them. 'We reiterate our commitment to taking decisive action to ensure the dignified treatment of captive wildlife.'
