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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable small “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based amusement park have become pawns in a disagreement between a defunct facility, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their destiny often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the federal government prevented the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled facility near the famous falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and communal behavior point to they are remarkably smart mammals – something a former trainer discovered personally.

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

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She formed a particular love for two female belugas with opposing natures.

“One whale chose me. The other required effort,” she said. “Each 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 captivity.

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which advocates say points to the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The park did not operate to the guests over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past asserted: “The whales … receive far higher quality medical attention and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was dismissed from the park in the spring following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought details of the death were shared to the press and she was released not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and current and former trainers in despair. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any plans to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, equipment and machinery.

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

Burgess backs demands for the whales to be removed immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

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

“Granting the request would have meant a perpetual situation in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As society, we know that belugas belong in the wild, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience permit an export that would prolong the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reveal a more general lack of awareness of the realities of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities work to find a resolution, ideas have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A suggested protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received regulatory clearance, has proven most controversial. The planned site, which includes 100 acres of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Advocates remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a long term answer for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the near future.

The project lead, head of the plan, said the facility will simulate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|