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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have been entangled in a tussle between a closed attraction, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those closest to the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the humans who see them each day.

After the Canadian government prevented the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled attraction near the famous falls where they are housed stated it would consider to end their lives unless the government funds the cost of their care. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and social skills indicate they are remarkably smart animals – something one caretaker discovered directly.

She spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a position that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She developed a particular love for a pair of whales with opposing natures.

“Eve accepted me. The other required effort,” she said. “Both transformed the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales progressed against a context of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her time at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park ascribes to natural mortality, but which campaigners say indicates the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the shutdown. “Concrete is breaking off from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and navigate with chunks in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not respond to a request for comment, but earlier claimed: “The whales … get far higher quality veterinary services and 24/7 care than any human in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in the spring following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the employees had to put down. She said the park thought information of the incident were shared to the news outlets and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any plans to euthanize even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

“It’s impossible in hell the staff would ever do it,” she said.

Burgess advocates for calls for the whales to be taken promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, the nation’s fisheries minister denied a bid to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the request would have meant a perpetual existence in enclosure and a return to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As the public, we know that whales are meant for the sea, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in good conscience approve an transfer that would continue the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements reflect a wider incorrect perception of the realities of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers work to find a resolution, ideas have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of food for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received government approval, has been most controversial. The planned facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could in time represent a permanent solution for some of the whales.

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

Different voices say the possibility of a protected habitat indicates a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible solution in the coming months.

The project lead, leader of the initiative, said the facility will simulate the mental engagement and nutrition the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|