Marineland: Allegations of Poor Treatment of Deer, Bears (Toronto Star)
It was the death of a little Red deer in the summer of 2010 that was the final straw for Hammond at Marineland. The deer’s foreleg was badly broken, with the bone sticking out, and it had to be killed. Hammond accepted that, but it was how the deer died he’ll never forget.
Hammond, an 11-year veteran at the sprawling facility, begged owner John Holer to bring in a vet to euthanize the animal. He says Holer refused, instead taking out his 12-gauge shotgun, shooting the deer and then driving off. But the wounded animal didn’t die.
“He was twitching quite a bit and his head would flop up and down,” Hammond recalled. The deer had been shot through the windpipe and was gasping for air.
He called Holer at home to say the deer was still alive and asked if he could call the vet to “do it right” or would Holer come back. According to Hammond, Holer refused, telling him: “I just got back to the house and got sitting down … You’ve got a knife in the back of the wagon.”
Hammond acted reluctantly.
“I don’t want to dramatize it, but when you do that to an animal, you remember it,” said Hammond, a big guy who clasped his hands and stared bleakly at the floor. “And it was a dull knife … If you take a dull knife across hair, it’s very hard to cut. It was like trying to cut into concrete. And you’re there not for a few seconds, it’s a few minutes.”
He paused and struggled to speak. “I’m ashamed.”
The poor condition of the Deer and their enclosure at Marineland is one of the most consistently complained about features of the park. In this picture you can see the barren landscape that the deer live in. The area has very little shade throughout the day and has no trees or grass available for shelter. Deer appear to rely on visitors to provide treats and are often reported begging for food, where naturally their timid demeanor would prevent them from getting close to humans. Visitors being allowed to feed and interact with deer also poses health risks for humans as many deer have been seen with visible wounds that could potentially harbor diseases or infections.
Photo by Jo-Anne McArthur (www.weanimals.org)
Another day, another first hand account. From Trip Advisor - June 10, 2012.
“There were so many injured Deer not being tended to out in the heat with children chasing them.
! Looks like they are just meeting the standards required AND NO MORE . SO WRONG OF THEM !!!
First Hand Account July 9, 2012. Review pulled from Trip Advisor.
“wont be returning didnt fee the entry fee is that bad some people complain i do hope that its what it is to pay for the high food cost for the whales and dolphins but would like to see the budget backinto the deer or see them go to the zoo where its so beautiful and like home.
im sure the owner dosent see it this way. i hope this place shuts down sooner”
