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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming small “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a tussle between a closed attraction, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated debate over their future often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the struggling amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to end their lives unless the government funds the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and communal behavior indicate they are remarkably smart animals – something one caretaker observed personally.

She spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required building relationships of the marine predators.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable 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 formed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting natures.

“One whale selected me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “They transformed the way I perceive bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

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

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, died. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The facility did not open to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the closure. “Concrete is falling apart from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … receive far higher quality medical attention and around the clock care than any human in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in recent months following the passing of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the park suspected information of the death were disclosed to the news outlets and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any plans to euthanize even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, vehicles and machinery.

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

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

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

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a perpetual life in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As society, we know that marine mammals should be in the ocean, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an export that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments reveal a more general misunderstanding of the realities of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, ideas have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received government approval, has shown to be most controversial. The planned facility, which includes a large area of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain positive that it could ultimately represent a long term resolution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the possibility of a sanctuary represents a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable solution in the coming months.

An official, leader of the sanctuary project, said the location will simulate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|