It took only a day for inspectors to give Marineland the thumbs-up in the wake of a Star investigation and public complaints about animal care at the Niagara Falls facility.

In a recent Starseries, former trainers blamed chronic health issues among sea mammals, including the recent death of a baby beluga, on staffing shortages and sporadically poor water at the park.

But as three inspectors from the Canadian Association of Zoo and Aquariums left Marineland a week later on Aug. 23, they told owner John Holer the health of marine mammals looked “very good” and the preventative medicine program was “comprehensive.”

That same evening, Marineland put out an upbeat press release to say it had a clean bill of health.

This week Holer cited that positive report — “there were no major issues” — in a letter to Niagara Falls city council as he responded to a proposed motion calling for provincial licensing of facilities like Marineland.

“I have reviewed (Holer’s) letter and it correctly states the views of the inspection team,” wrote Bill Peters, national director for the self-regulating association, in an email to the Star.

But at the same time, he said, the broader investigation of the popular tourist attraction has not been completed.

More Inside Marineland: The death of baby beluga Skoot

Inspectors routinely sit down in an exit interview and present “major issues, major concerns, lesser concerns and just the sort of top line, overall, what the inspectors saw.”

The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ordered an investigation of Marineland after angry public reaction to the Star series. It’s being done jointly with CAZA and the Niagara Falls Humane Society. The OSPCA and the Humane Society also visited Marineland on Aug. 23, though they have not yet released their findings.

OSPCA officials declined to address questions on whether CAZA’s early endorsement compromises the entire Marineland investigation.

Agent Brad Dewar, OSPCA investigations and communications officer, asked the Star for a copy of Holer’s letter to Niagara council, but did not respond to questions.

The OSPCA has said only that the investigation continues.

PHOTOS:Meet the animals of Marineland.

The Niagara Falls Humane Society has not returned repeated phone calls about the investigation, or about official complaints forwarded by Starreaders. A plaque in the lobby thanks Holer for donating the building.

As Holer requested in his letter, Niagara Falls council voted on Tuesday to defer Councillor Janice Wing’s motion that urged the province to require licences for zoos and aquariums, and sought to ask Ottawa to prohibit the import and/or export of captured sea mammals.

“It’s been known and recognized that something has to be done (in terms of regulations) for years,” Wing said in an interview. “As one of the communities with such a facility, it’s incumbent on us to show leadership on this issue by calling for more stringent regulations.”

She added: “I correct that. It should be regulations, period.”

Her motions were deferred until after the report on Marineland.

“Presently, Marineland is assisting CAZA and the OSPCA with their inquiries, which Marineland anticipates will be completed within the month,” said Holer’s letter. “Following the completion of those inquiries Marineland would welcome the opportunity to . . . respond, if appropriate, to the proposed resolution, in which it has expertise and a clear interest.”

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Marineland closes for the season after Thanksgiving weekend.

Niagara residents have been buzzing about the Marineland series, said Wing, adding many have expressed sympathy for her resolutions. In a letter to council, one citizen called Marineland a “stain” upon the community.

CAZA inspectors at Marineland were: business manager Greg Tarry; Clément Lanthier, president and CEO of the Calgary Zoo, and; Martin Haulena, a staff vet at the Vancouver Aquarium. Both the Calgary and Vancouver facilities are CAZA members.

Peters said the amount Marineland pays annually to CAZA in dues is confidential.

Lanthier and Tarry interviewed four trainers from the Star series by telephone. As well, Peters said CAZA requested records on animal care and water quality from Marineland.

Neither the OSPCA or the humane society contacted any trainers.

However, Phil Demers, who left as senior marine mammal trainer in May, and Jim Hammond, land animal supervisor until July 2011, filed written complaints with the humane society. Hammond also sent his complaint to CAZA.

After a Star story last week in which Hammond described poor enclosures for bears and deer and, in his view, the needless deaths of bear cubs, the humane society went back in on Monday to inspect land animal premises.

Ontario Community Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur, who oversees the OSPCA, said she “was in tears” over the series and “would have preferred” to know about problems beforehand.

There are no regulations for sea mammals or animals in captivity in Canada, other than through CAZA. Canada stands virtually alone among developed nations in its lack of enforceable standards either for captive sea mammals or for the importation of wild-caught animals.

The OSPCA Act covers animal cruelty but, Meilleur said the act may require strengthening.

An ex-supervisor who tested water at Marineland handed over records to the Star that showed repeated episodes of water problems, particularly during eight months from September, 2010, to opening day in May, 2012.

Photos obtained by the Star showed eye damage in several sea mammals, and, in one video, sea lions Baker and Sandy were kept in a dry pen with only a single bucket of water. They had to be kept out of the water, according to Demers and other trainers.

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