‘It’s deeply saddening’: the way 30 captive beluga whales have become tools in row over inhumane treatment.

The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute little “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense controversy over their future often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the people who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities disallowed the transfer of the belugas to China, the struggling amusement park near the famous falls where they are kept threatened to put them down unless the authorities covers the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that request, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, intellectual tasks and group interactions indicate they are remarkably smart creatures – something one caretaker discovered first-hand.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a job that required gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and quirks in their dispositions. She cultivated a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting natures.

“Eve accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “They transformed the way I view relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s interaction with the whales developed against a context of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her time at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, died. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say indicates the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand effects of the closure. “Concrete is falling apart from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and move about with pieces in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not comment to a questionnaire, but earlier claimed: “The whales … receive far better health care and constant attention than any person in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in the spring following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the facility suspected particulars of the incident were leaked to the press and she was released shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any efforts to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “significant manpower”, trucks and specialized tools.

“It cannot happen in hell the employees would ever do it,” she said.

Burgess advocates for requests for the whales to be taken immediately from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In late September, the nation’s government official denied a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a perpetual situation in enclosure and a return to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that whales belong in the sea, not in pools for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing permit an export that would continue the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reveal a wider misunderstanding of the facts of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a resolution, ideas have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of sustenance for local populations.

A proposed protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which has received government approval, has been most controversial. The future facility, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Advocates remain positive that it could ultimately represent a permanent solution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the idea of a protected habitat indicates a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible approach in the near future.

Charles Vinick, leader of the plan, said the site will mimic the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|