‘It’s deeply saddening’: how 30 captive white whales have become pawns in dispute over animal welfare.

The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an adorable little “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a struggle between a defunct facility, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often ignores 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 Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are held stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the authorities funds the expense of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that request, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Researchers say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and social skills point to they are remarkably smart creatures – something Kristy Burgess learned directly.

She spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a position that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She developed a deep bond for two female belugas with opposing temperaments.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Each changed the way I view bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales evolved against a background of growing public opposition to their confinement.

During her tenure at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility attributes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say points to the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not operate to the public over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not respond to a inquiry, but in the past claimed: “The whales … get far higher quality health care and constant supervision than any person in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in early March following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility suspected particulars of the death were disclosed to the media and she was let go not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” undertaking, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “significant manpower”, trucks and machinery.

“It’s impossible in hell the caretakers would ever do it,” she said.

She supports demands for the whales to be taken immediately from the park, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, Canada’s fisheries minister denied a request to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a continued situation in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the official stated. “As the public, we know that whales belong in the sea, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an transfer that would continue the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reflect a more general incorrect perception of the realities of existence for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As authorities struggle to find a resolution, proposals have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for local populations.

A proposed protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which now received government approval, has shown to be most controversial. The future facility, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain optimistic that it could in time represent a permanent resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Different voices say the idea of a sanctuary reflects a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a workable plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, leader of the plan, said the site will replicate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales receive from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|