Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an adorable little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.
A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a disagreement between a shuttered park, public officials and advocacy groups.
But those most familiar with the whales say the intense controversy over their fate often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.
After the national authorities disallowed the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are kept stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the authorities covers the expense of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that request, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.
Researchers say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills suggest they are highly cognitive mammals – something a former trainer discovered directly.
Burgess spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that involved earning the trust of the aquatic animals.
“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”
The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the details and quirks in their personalities. She formed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with different natures.
“Eve accepted me. The other required effort,” she said. “Each transformed the way I perceive bonding.”
Burgess’s connection with the whales progressed against a context of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.
During her tenure at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility links to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.
The facility did not operate to the guests over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”
The park did not comment to a request for comment, but previously asserted: “The whales … get far higher quality veterinary services and constant supervision than any person in the Britain, or anywhere else.”
The former employee was terminated from the park in early March following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park suspected details of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was fired shortly thereafter.
The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any plans to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “immense staff”, trucks and heavy equipment.
“There’s no way in hell the caretakers would ever do it,” she said.
Burgess backs requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the park, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.
In late September, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to export the whales to an overseas location.
“Allowing the application would have meant a ongoing situation in confinement and a return to public entertainment,” the minister commented. “As society, we know that marine mammals should be in the sea, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an relocation that would prolong the conditions these belugas have suffered.”
But Burgess said the official’s statements indicate a wider lack of awareness of the facts of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.
“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in confinement 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 ‘end operations’.”
As authorities work to find a resolution, ideas have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.
A proposed protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received regulatory clearance, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes a large area of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain positive that it could ultimately represent a long term answer for a number of the whales.
But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.
Different voices say the prospect of a refuge reflects a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a feasible approach in the coming months.
An official, leader of the plan, said the location will simulate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|
Elena Vance is a digital strategist with over a decade of experience in UK business consulting, specializing in technology-driven growth solutions.