Marineland's killer whale is ill, animal rights group says
CBC News | Posted: August 2, 2014 3:00 AM | Last Updated: August 2, 2014
Officials at Niagara Falls, Ont., water park insist Kiska is in good health
An animal rights group says the killer whale at Marineland appears to be sick, but officials insist that Kiska, a mainstay of the Niagara Falls, Ont., water park for many years, is in good health.
Orca United recently sent CBC News photos which it says show signs of a troubling condition known as “peanut head” — an indentation near the blowhole that is a sign of severe weight loss.
CBC News was given access to the park and Kiska. Her trainers say she has “good girth” and eats between 40 and 55 kilograms of fish a day.
Marine mammal supervisor Tom Weston says she's under constant watch by two veterinarians, seven caregivers and a team of 14 outside consultants.
“We check eyes, her breath, we observe every day,” said Weston. “I hope she outlives me.”
- Protesters crash through Marineland gates
- Marineland called 'worst park' in progressive countries
- Marineland taking steps to improve animal care, OSPCA says
Kiska is the only killer whale living in captivity in Canada.
Ongoing protests and complaints about health problems at Marineland were in part what led to sweeping changes to Ontario's animal welfare laws last year.
The OSPCA now does mandatory inspections twice a year. It says it is investigating this new complaint.