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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute small “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a disagreement between a shuttered park, government authorities and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated debate over their future often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the embattled attraction near the famous falls where they are kept stated it would consider to put them down unless the government pays for the upkeep of their care. Canada’s marine resources official has refused that request, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable situation.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and communal behavior suggest they are highly cognitive animals – something one caretaker observed first-hand.

She spent three years as a beluga trainer, a role that involved earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless surprised by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She cultivated a special affection for two female belugas with opposing personalities.

“One whale chose me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “They altered the way I view bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

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

During her three years at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the facility attributes to natural mortality, but which advocates say points to the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the public over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and swim around with pieces in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not comment to a questionnaire, but earlier stated: “The whales … obtain far better health care and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in recent months following the demise of a beluga, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought particulars of the death were leaked to the press and she was released soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any plans to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess supports demands for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

In late September, the nation’s fisheries minister turned down a proposal to send the whales to China.

“Granting the application would have meant a ongoing situation in confinement and a return to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales belong in the sea, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing approve an relocation that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the official’s statements reflect a more general incorrect perception of the realities of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a resolution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A suggested refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received regulatory clearance, has proven highly debated. The future location, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a permanent answer for eight of the whales.

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

Some experts say the prospect of a refuge indicates a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a feasible plan in the coming months.

An official, head of the initiative, said the facility will replicate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales get from trainers, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|