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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but guardian-like companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a closed attraction, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated controversy over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the government funds the expense of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that request, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills indicate they are deeply intelligent animals – something a former trainer discovered first-hand.

Burgess spent three years as a beluga trainer, a role that required earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their personalities. She developed a special affection for two female belugas with different temperaments.

“Eve accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Each changed the way I understand relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales progressed against a background of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her three years at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, passed away. In all, 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 poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not operate to the guests over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and swim around with pieces in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but previously asserted: “The whales … receive far better health care and constant supervision than any person in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in the spring following the demise of Eos, an sick beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park suspected information of the incident were shared to the news outlets and she was let go soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the park’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any efforts to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be taken right away from the park, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the request would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a return to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience approve an export that would continue the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s statements reflect a broader lack of awareness of the realities of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to realize these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a answer, proposals have been put forward, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A proposed refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The future site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a sustainable resolution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the possibility of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable approach in the near future.

Charles Vinick, leader of the sanctuary project, said the site will simulate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|