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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute small “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a big but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a disagreement between a closed attraction, 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 living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the people who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the authorities covers the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that request, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and communal behavior suggest they are remarkably smart mammals – something a former trainer learned personally.

Burgess spent several years as a whale caretaker, a job that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and quirks in their dispositions. She developed a deep bond for two female belugas with opposing personalities.

“One whale chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They changed the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

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

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the park attributes to natural mortality, but which campaigners say reflects the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re in disrepair and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

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

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in early March following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park suspected details of the death were disclosed to the news outlets and she was fired not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the park’s warning to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any efforts to put down even a single beluga would require “immense manpower”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

Burgess advocates for calls for the whales to be taken promptly from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

In late September, the nation’s government official turned down a bid to send the whales to China.

“Granting the proposal would have meant a continued situation in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As the public, we know that belugas should be in the sea, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in good conscience authorize an relocation that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reflect a broader misunderstanding of the circumstances of life 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 comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities struggle to find a answer, suggestions have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A proposed sanctuary in the region of eastern Canada, which has received regulatory clearance, has shown to be contentious. The prospective site, which includes a large area of protected cove, is not yet built. Advocates remain optimistic that it could in time represent a sustainable resolution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “only an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the idea of a refuge reflects a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a viable solution in the near future.

An official, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will mimic the mental engagement and nutrition the whales get from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|