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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming little “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a big but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a tussle between a defunct facility, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated discussion over their future often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who see them each day.

After the national authorities disallowed the transfer of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near Niagara Falls where they are kept threatened to put them down unless the federal government funds the upkeep of their care. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and social skills indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something one caretaker learned first-hand.

She spent several years as a beluga trainer, a role that involved gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those relationships over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She developed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “They altered the way I perceive bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s connection with the whales developed against a background of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her three years at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to natural mortality, but which advocates say reflects the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the public over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not comment to a inquiry, but earlier asserted: “The whales … obtain far superior medical attention and 24/7 attention than any human in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in recent months following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the park thought details of the death were shared to the media and she was fired soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s warning to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any efforts to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “immense personnel”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs calls for the whales to be taken promptly from the park, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In recent months, Canada’s fisheries minister rejected a proposal to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a continued life in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the official wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the wild, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience permit an export that would prolong the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reveal a wider lack of awareness of the realities of existence for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need human care for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as easy as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers struggle to find a solution, proposals have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of food for local populations.

A proposed sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has proven contentious. The future facility, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a long term resolution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the possibility of a refuge represents a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable approach in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the initiative, said the site will mimic the cognitive activities and diet the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|