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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a tussle between a shuttered park, public officials and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense discussion over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the people who work with them regularly.

After the federal government prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the embattled facility near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to put them down unless the authorities covers the cost of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and social skills suggest they are deeply intelligent mammals – something a former trainer learned directly.

Burgess spent several years as a whale caretaker, a job that involved earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless surprised by the nuances and unique traits in their characters. She developed a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting personalities.

“One whale chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both transformed the way I perceive bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s interaction with the whales developed against a context of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her three years at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the park links to natural mortality, but which advocates say indicates the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Concrete is falling apart from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but in the past stated: “The whales … obtain far better veterinary services and 24/7 attention than any human in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was dismissed from the park in early March following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park suspected details of the death were leaked to the media and she was released shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any attempts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “considerable staff”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

Burgess advocates for calls for the whales to be removed promptly from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, Canada’s government official turned down a request to send the whales to China.

“Granting the proposal would have meant a perpetual life in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the sea, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in good conscience approve an transfer that would continue the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments indicate a wider lack of awareness of the realities of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities work to find a solution, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of nourishment for local populations.

A suggested sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received government approval, has been most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could in time represent a long term solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an trial” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a sanctuary reflects a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the short term.

The project lead, director of the plan, said the location will simulate the cognitive activities and diet the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|