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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute small “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated debate over their fate often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near the famous falls where they are held threatened to euthanize them unless the authorities pays for the expense of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that request, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and communal behavior suggest they are remarkably smart mammals – something a former trainer discovered personally.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that entailed gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those relationships over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their dispositions. She cultivated a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with different personalities.

“Eve chose me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Both altered the way I view bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s interaction with the whales progressed against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their confinement.

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say points to the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The park did not operate to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly results of the cessation. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not respond to a questionnaire, but in the past stated: “The whales … get far superior medical attention and 24/7 care than any human in the Britain, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the park in the spring following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the facility suspected information of the death were shared to the news outlets and she was released shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense staff”, trucks and machinery.

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

She backs demands for the whales to be transferred right away from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

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

“Granting the application would have meant a ongoing life in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience approve an transfer that would continue the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reveal a more general misunderstanding of the realities of life for belugas born in captivity.

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

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As authorities work to find a answer, proposals have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal 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 suggested refuge in the region of eastern Canada, which now received government approval, has been contentious. The prospective site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain optimistic that it could in time represent a sustainable resolution for a number of the whales.

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

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a viable solution in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, director of the plan, said the location will simulate the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|