Ontario’s animal welfare agency announced six new animal cruelty and neglect charges against Marineland on Monday as part of a continuing investigation into the care of land mammals at the theme park.

The charges include one count each for permitting elk, red deer and fallow deer to be in distress. They also include one count each for failing to provide prescribed standards of care.

“Essentially, animals being in distress can relate to not being provided with adequate care: food, water, shelter, necessary veterinary care in some cases,” said Jennifer Bluhm, deputy chief of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Bluhm said the new charges stem from the same investigation that resulted in the Niagara Falls, Ont. attraction being charged with five counts of animal cruelty in late November.

Those charges were related to the treatment of peacocks, guinea hens and black bears.

“This was a complex investigation and as our investigation proceeded and further evidence was gathered, it was appropriate to lay additional charges at this time,” she said.

Marineland said in a statement Monday the OSPCA had laid its “strangest charges yet.”

“The OSPCA charges fail to identify a specific animal they believe to be in distress or not receiving an appropriate level of care 61 days ago at our park, and failed to identify a specific animal in their charges today,” it stated.

The company said it believes the OSPCA “is continuing a publicity campaign at the behest of a band of discredited activists with little relevant expertise or knowledge.” Marineland accused the association of trying “to avoid further embarrassment related to . . . the OSPCA’s perceived failure to protect animals.”

Bluhm said the OSPCA began its investigation into the care of land mammals at Marineland on Nov. 10 after receiving information from a concerned member of the public. The association is not currently investigating the treatment of any marine mammals at theme park, she said.

“The fact that we’ve laid an additional six counts as part of this investigation is a good example of the thoroughness that we’ve put into this investigation,” said Bluhm.

The animals related to the new charges remain in Marineland’s care, according to Bluhm. She said the OSPCA can only remove animals under certain circumstances which were not present in this instance, such as when they are found to be in immediate distress, or upon the recommendation of a veterinarian.

Adam Wilson, director of investigations at Last Chance for Animals, a vocal critic of Marineland, said the new charges are consistent with complaints the group brought forward to the OSPCA.

“I think this new set of cruelty charges just again reinforces the fact that Marineland has no business breeding and keeping animals,” he said. “The real end result of all of these charges should be that Marineland faces a lifetime ban on the ownership of animals.”

Marineland has denied previous allegations of animal cruelty, saying they came from an employee who was fired for poor performance and inappropriate behaviour.

The company said it looked forward defending itself in court. All 11 counts will be part of Marineland’s next appearance on Jan. 26 in Niagara Falls.

With files from Hina Alam and The Canadian Press

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