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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense discussion over their fate often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial facility near Niagara Falls where they are held threatened to put them down unless the government funds the cost of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has refused that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills indicate they are remarkably smart creatures – something a former trainer discovered first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a whale caretaker, a position that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Building up those relationships over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the nuances and unique traits in their characters. She formed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale selected me. The other required effort,” she said. “Each altered the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales evolved against a context of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her three years at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a number which the facility attributes to age-related causes, but which activists say indicates the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand effects of the cessation. “Concrete 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 navigate with fragments in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not respond to a questionnaire, but in the past stated: “The whales … get far higher quality medical attention and around the clock supervision than any human in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was terminated from the park in recent months following the passing of a beluga, an ailing beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the park believed details of the death were disclosed to the press and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and staff members in distress. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any attempts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “immense personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

“There’s no way in hell the employees 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 the autumn, the nation’s fisheries minister rejected a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the request would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official wrote. “As Canadians, we know that belugas belong in the ocean, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing approve an export that would continue the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reflect a broader incorrect perception of the facts of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “People just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers work to find a answer, ideas have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A planned refuge in the region of eastern Canada, which now received government approval, has shown to be contentious. The future site, which includes a large area of protected cove, is not yet built. Advocates remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a permanent resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Different voices say the idea of a sanctuary represents a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a viable plan in the near future.

An official, director of the plan, said the location will simulate the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales get from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|