Phil Demers, a former trainer at Marineland, has been charged with trespassing and is accused of plotting to kidnap the walrus Smooshi. Demers quit in 2012 and started a campaign against Marineland by alleging animal abuse and neglect was taking place at the park. He told Toronto Star last August that poor water quality had caused blindness and other health problems among seals, sea lions and dolphins.
The $1.5 million suit against Demers says he unlawfully stormed the park during a live stadium show on closing day last October 7. He was with other activists. Demers claims he never entered the grounds and has support from others involved in a protest outside the park. He also holds that the notion that he intended to steal Smooshi is ridiculous. There would really be no place to take the walrus and the allegation is absurd, he says.
Now, Marineland seeks to gain an injunction preventing him from trespassing on the park’s property.
[via Toronto Star]
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Saša Mitrović is a blogger and a Toronto Standard intern. Follow her on Twitter at @thrasheddoll
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