‘It’s devastating’: how 30 captive beluga whales have become tools in conflict over animal cruelty.

Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a disagreement between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their future often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the federal government blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near Niagara Falls where they are held stated it would consider to end their lives unless the government funds the cost of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and group interactions suggest they are highly cognitive creatures – something Kristy Burgess observed directly.

She spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that involved earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those relationships over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the nuances and quirks in their characters. She cultivated a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale selected me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Both altered the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s connection with the whales developed against a context of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her time at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility links to expected lifespan, but which activists say reflects the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

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

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past asserted: “The whales … obtain far better medical attention and around the clock supervision than any human in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the passing of a beluga, an unwell beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility believed particulars of the incident were leaked to the media and she was released shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” undertaking, adding any attempts to put down even a single beluga would require “significant manpower”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

In late September, Canada’s fisheries minister rejected a proposal to transfer the whales to China.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a return to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As society, we know that belugas should be in the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience permit an relocation that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements indicate a more general lack of awareness of the realities of living conditions for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a solution, suggestions have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of food for Inuit communities.

A proposed protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received regulatory clearance, has shown to be highly debated. The planned site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain positive that it could in time represent a sustainable solution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Different voices say the possibility of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a feasible approach in the near future.

An official, head of the initiative, said the location will mimic the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|