🔗 Share this article

Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute little “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a big but fiercely protective companion. Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have become pawns in a disagreement between a closed attraction, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those closest to the whales say the impassioned controversy over their destiny often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the export of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are kept stated it would consider to end their lives unless the federal government funds the upkeep of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Experts say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and social skills point to they are highly cognitive mammals – something one caretaker observed directly.

She spent three years as a whale caretaker, a job that involved building relationships of the marine predators.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, 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 nevertheless surprised by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She developed a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing temperaments.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both altered the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales developed against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to expected lifespan, but which advocates say points to the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The facility did not admit visitors to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes results of the cessation. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and navigate with chunks in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not reply to a inquiry, but earlier asserted: “The whales … obtain far better medical attention and 24/7 attention than any human in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in the spring following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the park suspected details of the death were shared to the media and she was fired soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and current and former trainers in distress. She says the park’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a one beluga would require “immense personnel”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for demands for the whales to be removed promptly from the park, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official rejected a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the application would have meant a continued life in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As the public, we know that whales should be in the ocean, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an relocation that would continue the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s statements indicate a wider lack of awareness of the facts of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As authorities struggle to find a resolution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A planned sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received government approval, has proven most controversial. The planned facility, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain positive that it could ultimately represent a permanent solution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an untested concept” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the idea of a protected habitat indicates a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the coming months.

An official, director of the plan, said the location will mimic the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|