“I didn’t want to come across as helping only one animal,” he said.

In an email to Niagara This Week, the filmmakers said they did not reach out to Marineland for input into the film.

“We did not attempt to contact Marineland for comment as we wanted to focus on Phil's story. We also did not want to interfere with his ongoing legal battle with Marineland,” the group said.

That being said, the students wanted the story to be told.

“We found Phil's stories about the conditions at Marineland to be absolutely appalling and wanted to do our part to raise awareness about these issues. We are hoping the film will help Phil in his fight against Marineland. We are releasing this film to coincide with Marineland's opening of its 2017 season (on Saturday, May 20) in hopes to bring more attention to the issues at the park.”

Marineland, in a statement issued to Niagara This Week, said Demers “resigned his employment with Marineland in 2012 — five years ago — after his proposal to Marineland that he ‘star’ in a reality TV show, tentatively titled 'The Walrus Whisperer,' staged at Marineland and featuring manufactured ‘hijinks’ was rejected by Marineland.”

The park labelled the short film as “another effort by Mr. Demers to generate the media interest he craves utilizing footage that is years out of date and recycling old allegations that have been investigated by relevant authorities and dismissed. His video isn't news — it's personal promotional material for Phil Demers. A person who has simply failed to move on with his life and is recycling the past.”

Demers was among a group of whistleblowers who spoke to the Toronto Star for the newspaper’s investigation into the park back in 2012. He is currently embroiled in court proceedings with the park and its owner, John Holer, who are suing Demers for $1.5 million. The park is also suing the Star for $7 million stemming from the investigation.

The park also faces 11 charges of animal cruelty filed by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The case has been put over several times since an original hearing date in January. The next hearing is scheduled for June 2.

The video can be seen at https://vimeo.com/217874226