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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a big but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their future often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the people who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities disallowed the sale of the belugas to China, the embattled amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the authorities covers the expense of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and group interactions suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something one caretaker observed directly.

She spent several years as a whale caretaker, a job that required gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

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

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless surprised by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She cultivated a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting temperaments.

“Eve chose me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Both transformed the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales developed against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their confinement.

During her three years at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which activists say points to the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she observed directly consequences of the cessation. “Structural materials is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not comment to a questionnaire, but in the past stated: “The whales … get far better veterinary services and constant supervision than any person in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the park in recent months following the passing of a beluga, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the park believed information of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the park’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any attempts to put down even a one beluga would require “immense manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess advocates for demands for the whales to be taken right away from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, Canada’s government official denied a request to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the request would have meant a perpetual situation in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that whales belong in the sea, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in good conscience authorize an export that would continue the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments indicate a broader lack of awareness of the realities of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities attempt to find a resolution, ideas have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of sustenance for local populations.

A planned protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which recently received regulatory clearance, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a sustainable resolution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the prospect of a refuge reflects a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable approach in the short term.

An official, head of the initiative, said the location will simulate the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales receive from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|