🔗 Share this article

Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a shuttered park, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those closest to the whales say the intense discussion over their fate often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the federal government prevented the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to end their lives unless the authorities covers the cost of their care. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and group interactions suggest they are remarkably smart animals – something a former trainer observed first-hand.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required earning the trust of the marine predators.

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

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was even so surprised by the details and unique traits in their characters. She formed a special affection for a pair of whales with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Both transformed the way I view relationships.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales developed against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her tenure at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, died. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say indicates the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The facility did not admit visitors to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the shutdown. “Structural materials is breaking off from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and swim around with pieces in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past stated: “The whales … get far higher quality medical attention and 24/7 supervision than any person in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in early March following the demise of a beluga, an sick beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park suspected information of the death were leaked to the news outlets and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the park’s warning to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense manpower”, vehicles and specialized tools.

“There’s no way in hell the caretakers would ever do it,” she said.

She backs requests for the whales to be removed immediately from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In late September, the nation’s fisheries minister turned down a bid to send the whales to China.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a perpetual life in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As the public, we know that marine mammals are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience permit an export that would continue the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s remarks reveal a more general incorrect perception of the realities of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a answer, ideas have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of food for Inuit communities.

A proposed refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which has received government approval, has shown to be contentious. The prospective facility, which includes a large area of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a sustainable answer for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an trial” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary reflects a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a workable approach in the short term.

Charles Vinick, leader of the sanctuary project, said the facility will mimic the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|