Marineland ordered to improve its act

NIAGARA FALLS, ONT. (WIVB) - Marineland has been ordered by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to clean up its act in the wake of more than a dozen whistleblowers and a series of checks on the parks conditions.

The Toronto Star has been interviewing past Marineland workers who complained of conditions for the parks creatures.

The OSPCA orders were kept under wraps until Friday when The Star revealed seven orders leveled against Marineland.  Five procedures must be completed by the end of the month.

The orders as reported in The Star include:

 •  building shelters for the deer, covered by two orders.

 •  building a structure to protect bear cubs from being killed by males in inadequate dens.

 •  bringing in a marine mammal ophthalmologist to deal with eye issues among pinnipeds (seals, walruses and sea lions).

 •  arranging for increased veterinary care for a particular pinniped.

Marineland was ordered to hire an outside expert for a full assessment of its water and filtration system, and implement an environmental enrichment program for the lone killer whale, Kiska.