It is devastating’: how thirty captive beluga whales have become tools in dispute over animal cruelty.

The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute small “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based amusement park have been caught in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their destiny often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the people who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government disallowed the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling facility near Niagara Falls where they are held stated it would consider to end their lives unless the authorities covers the upkeep of their care. Canada’s marine resources official has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and communal behavior indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something Kristy Burgess discovered directly.

She spent three years as a beluga trainer, a role that involved earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so surprised by the nuances and unique traits in their personalities. She formed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale accepted me. The other required effort,” she said. “Each changed the way I view relationships.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her interaction with the whales developed against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her three years at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park ascribes to natural mortality, but which activists say points to the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the visitors over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Concrete is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but previously claimed: “The whales … receive far higher quality medical attention and 24/7 care than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the park in recent months following the demise of a beluga, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the facility believed particulars of the death were leaked to the press and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and current and former trainers in despair. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any plans to put down even a single beluga would require “significant manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess advocates for requests for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

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

“Allowing the request would have meant a ongoing existence in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the ocean, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in good conscience permit an transfer that would prolong the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks indicate a broader lack of awareness of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a answer, ideas have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of food for Indigenous peoples.

A suggested protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which has received regulatory clearance, has shown to be highly debated. The prospective location, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, is not yet built. Advocates remain positive that it could eventually represent a long term resolution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the possibility of a sanctuary reflects a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable solution in the short term.

An official, leader of the plan, said the site will simulate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|