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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a defunct facility, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities prevented the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to end their lives unless the government pays for the upkeep of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and communal behavior indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something one caretaker learned directly.

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

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She developed a particular love for two female belugas with different natures.

“Eve chose me. The other required effort,” she said. “They altered the way I view bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, died. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the facility ascribes to expected lifespan, but which advocates say indicates the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The park did not operate to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly effects of the cessation. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far higher quality health care and around the clock supervision than any individual in the Britain, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was fired from the facility in recent months following the death of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the park believed details of the incident were shared to the press and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and current and former trainers in despair. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any attempts to put down even a one beluga would require “significant personnel”, trucks and machinery.

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

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

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

“To approve the proposal would have meant a continued existence in confinement and a return to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales belong in the wild, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an export that would prolong the situation these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reveal a broader incorrect perception of the facts of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As authorities work to find a solution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A suggested protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which recently received regulatory clearance, has proven most controversial. The planned site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a permanent solution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the prospect of a refuge reflects a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable solution in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, head of the initiative, said the facility will simulate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales receive 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|