The last two walruses still at Marineland Canada Recreation Park in Niagara Falls, Ont., will be transferred to another facility where they will reunite with other members of their species.
That’s what Marineland said in a statement on Wednesday about the walrus Smooshi and her calf Koyuk.
“The walruses will be relocated as soon as reasonably possible,” the park said, without specifying where the animals will be sent.
Marineland took the opportunity to specify that an agreement was also reached with his former animal trainer Phil Demers, with whom he had been in dispute for ten years.
“The dispute between Marineland of Canada, Inc. (“Marineland”) and Phil Demers has been settled amicably. The parties have agreed to terminate their respective claims and counterclaims without cost.
A lawsuit was filed in 2013 against the former employee, alleging he broke into the park with other activists in October 2012. Denying those allegations, Demers filed a countersuit for defamation.
He had accused the park of animal cruelty and revealed details about water quality, understaffing and incidents of neglect.