It's heartbreaking': how 30 captive beluga whales have become pawns in row over animal cruelty

"Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a shuttered park, local and national governments and animal rights activists. But those closest to the whales say the impassioned debate over their future often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the humans who see them each day."

"Scientists say that belugas' neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills suggest they are deeply intelligent mammals something Kristy Burgess learned first-hand at Marineland. Burgess spent three years as a beluga trainer, a job that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators. Building up those relationships over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love."

Thirty beluga whales held at Marineland near Niagara Falls are caught in a dispute involving the closed park, multiple levels of government and animal rights groups. The federal government blocked a proposed sale of the whales to China, and Marineland threatened euthanasia unless Ottawa funded ongoing care; the fisheries minister refused the demand. Trainers and caretakers report close, individualized knowledge of the whales, describing distinct personalities and strong bonds formed through trust-building. Scientists note beluga neuroanatomy, mimicry, problem solving and social skills indicate high intelligence, complicating decisions about welfare, relocation and long-term care.

Read at www.theguardian.com