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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming small “sweetheart”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a big but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a tussle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are kept stated it would consider to end their lives unless the federal government pays for the expense of their care. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Experts say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and group interactions indicate they are remarkably smart mammals – something one caretaker discovered first-hand.

Burgess spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a role that involved gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their personalities. She cultivated a special affection for a pair of whales with opposing personalities.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “They transformed the way I understand bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales progressed against a background of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her three years at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the facility ascribes to natural mortality, but which campaigners say points to the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The park did not admit visitors to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly effects of the shutdown. “Concrete is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a inquiry, but earlier asserted: “The whales … get far better medical attention and around the clock care than any human in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the death of a beluga, an sick beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the park believed particulars of the death were shared to the media and she was let go soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and staff members in distress. She says the park’s threat to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a individual beluga would require “immense personnel”, equipment and machinery.

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

She supports demands for the whales to be taken immediately from the park, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In late September, the nation’s government official denied a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the request would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a reversion to public entertainment,” the official wrote. “As society, we know that belugas should be in the ocean, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing authorize an export that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reflect a broader incorrect perception of the facts of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers attempt to find a answer, ideas have been put forward, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received regulatory clearance, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain hopeful that it could in time represent a permanent solution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the prospect of a protected habitat reflects a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the near future.

An official, head of the sanctuary project, said the facility will simulate the mental engagement and diet the whales get from trainers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|