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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute small “playful character”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a big but guardian-like companion. Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a struggle between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the impassioned debate over their future often ignores the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the people who see them each day.

After the federal government prevented the export of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and group interactions suggest they are highly cognitive animals – something a former trainer observed personally.

She spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those relationships over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless surprised by the subtleties and unique traits in their personalities. She developed a special affection for a pair of whales with different temperaments.

“Eve accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Both transformed the way I view bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her interaction with the whales evolved against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her three years at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, died. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility links to natural mortality, but which activists say points to the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes results of the closure. “Structural materials is falling apart from the pools because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and move about with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a request for comment, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far higher quality health care and around the clock attention than any individual in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in recent months following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the facility suspected details of the incident were shared to the media and she was fired not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the park’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any attempts to put down even a individual beluga would require “immense personnel”, vehicles and machinery.

“It cannot happen in hell the caretakers would ever do it,” she said.

Burgess supports requests for the whales to be removed right away from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official turned down a request to export the whales to China.

“To approve the proposal would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a return to performance for audiences,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that belugas are meant for the ocean, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing permit an relocation that would prolong the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reflect a more general misunderstanding of the facts of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities attempt to find a solution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a key source of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A planned refuge in the region of eastern Canada, which now received regulatory clearance, has been contentious. The planned location, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain positive that it could in time represent a permanent solution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an trial” in the whales’ future.

Others say the prospect of a protected habitat indicates a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the short term.

An official, director of the sanctuary project, said the location will mimic the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|