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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute small “playful character”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a disagreement between a shuttered park, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the heated controversy over their future often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling facility near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the upkeep of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and social skills indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something a former trainer observed directly.

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

“Building up those relationships over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She developed a special affection for two female belugas with opposing natures.

“One whale selected me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Both transformed the way I understand bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales evolved against a context of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, died. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a number which the park links to age-related causes, but which campaigners say indicates the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a questionnaire, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far higher quality medical attention and constant supervision than any individual in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in early March following the demise of a beluga, an sick beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park suspected particulars of the death were shared to the media and she was let go soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the facility’s threat to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any efforts to put down even a individual beluga would require “considerable manpower”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs calls for the whales to be removed immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s government official denied a proposal to export the whales to China.

“To approve the request would have meant a ongoing existence in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that belugas belong in the ocean, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing approve an export that would continue the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s statements reflect a more general incorrect perception of the realities of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As authorities struggle to find a answer, ideas have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of nourishment for local populations.

A proposed protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has shown to be highly debated. The future location, which includes 100 acres of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Supporters remain hopeful that it could in time represent a permanent resolution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the prospect of a refuge represents a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the near future.

An official, head of the plan, said the site will simulate the cognitive activities and diet 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|