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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a tussle between a defunct facility, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the heated controversy over their destiny often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been closely studied by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled attraction near the famous falls where they are housed warned to put them down unless the authorities pays for the cost of their care. Canada’s marine resources official has rejected that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and social skills indicate they are highly cognitive mammals – something one caretaker observed personally.

She spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a job that required building relationships of the sea creatures.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She cultivated a particular love for two female belugas with different personalities.

“Eve chose me. The other required effort,” she said. “Both changed the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s connection with the whales developed against a background of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her three years at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the facility links to natural mortality, but which activists say reflects the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the cessation. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a inquiry, but in the past stated: “The whales … receive far better medical attention and constant attention than any human in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the park in early March following the passing of Eos, an sick beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the park thought particulars of the death were leaked to the media and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and other caretakers in despair. She says the park’s threat to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any attempts to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable manpower”, equipment and machinery.

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

Burgess backs calls for the whales to be taken right away from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In recent months, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to transfer the whales to China.

“To approve the proposal would have meant a continued life in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister commented. “As society, we know that marine mammals should be in the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience approve an export that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reveal a wider lack of awareness of the circumstances of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of sustenance for local populations.

A proposed refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received regulatory clearance, has proven most controversial. The future site, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain positive that it could in time represent a sustainable resolution for some of the whales.

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

Others say the prospect of a sanctuary indicates a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a viable solution in the coming months.

An official, leader of the initiative, said the site will simulate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|