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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a shuttered park, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated debate over their future often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been carefully observed by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government prevented the export of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are held stated it would consider to end their lives unless the government pays for the cost of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has refused that request, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and communal behavior indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something a former trainer learned directly.

Burgess spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that involved earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the details and quirks in their characters. She developed a deep bond for two female belugas with different temperaments.

“One whale chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Each transformed the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her connection with the whales developed against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her time at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the park links to expected lifespan, but which activists say reflects the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The park did not admit visitors to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes results of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a questionnaire, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far higher quality medical attention and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the Britain, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was fired from the park in early March following the passing of a beluga, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the facility thought particulars of the incident were shared to the media and she was fired soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in despair. She says the park’s threat to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, equipment and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be removed right away from the facility, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

In recent months, Canada’s government official denied a bid to export the whales to China.

“Allowing the application would have meant a continued situation in confinement and a return to display for amusement,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in pools for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing approve an transfer that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reflect a broader incorrect perception of the facts of existence for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a solution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for local populations.

A planned protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received official endorsement, has shown to be contentious. The planned location, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain positive that it could ultimately represent a long term resolution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the idea of a protected habitat indicates a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a workable plan in the coming months.

The project lead, director of the plan, said the facility will mimic the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|