‘It’s devastating’: how 30 captive white whales are now pawns in dispute over inhumane treatment.

The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute little “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a defunct facility, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated controversy over their fate often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the people who interact with them daily.

After the federal government disallowed the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are kept threatened to put them down unless the government pays for the upkeep of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and social skills point to they are highly cognitive mammals – something a former trainer observed directly.

Burgess spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a role that entailed earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for two female belugas with different personalities.

“Eve selected me. The other required effort,” she said. “Each changed the way I understand bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales evolved against a background of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her three years at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which activists say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a inquiry, but earlier claimed: “The whales … receive far better medical attention and around the clock care than any individual in the Britain, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in the spring following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the park believed particulars of the incident were leaked to the press and she was let go not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any plans to euthanize even a single beluga would require “considerable manpower”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

Burgess advocates for requests for the whales to be transferred immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In recent months, the nation’s government official denied a bid to send the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the proposal would have meant a perpetual situation in enclosure and a reversion to public entertainment,” the official wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the ocean, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reveal a wider lack of awareness of the realities of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a solution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The future location, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a sustainable solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the idea of a sanctuary reflects a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable plan in the near future.

The project lead, director of the plan, said the location will mimic the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales receive from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|