🔗 Share this article

The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but guardian-like companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a tussle between a closed attraction, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the heated controversy over their future often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who see them each day.

After the national authorities prevented the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed warned to put them down unless the government pays for the upkeep of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable situation.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Researchers say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills suggest they are deeply intelligent creatures – something one caretaker discovered directly.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a position that required earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the details and unique traits in their characters. She formed a particular love for a pair of whales with contrasting personalities.

“One whale chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both changed the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales developed against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, died. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the cessation. “Structural materials is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and swim around with fragments in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but in the past asserted: “The whales … get far superior medical attention and around the clock supervision than any individual in the Britain, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was fired from the facility in recent months following the death of Eos, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park suspected details of the incident were shared to the press and she was released soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and current and former trainers in distress. She says the park’s warning to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be transferred right away from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

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

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a continued life in captivity and a return to performance for audiences,” the minister stated. “As society, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing approve an transfer that would continue the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s statements reveal a more general lack of awareness of the realities of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t comprehend that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials attempt to find a answer, proposals have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which has received regulatory clearance, has shown to be contentious. The planned site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Supporters remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a sustainable resolution for eight of the whales.

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

Some experts say the idea of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, head of the plan, said the site will replicate the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|