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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a defunct facility, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the intense debate over their destiny often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been carefully observed by the people who see them each day.

After the national authorities disallowed the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling attraction near Niagara Falls where they are kept threatened to euthanize them unless the government covers the cost of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that request, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and social skills indicate they are remarkably smart mammals – something a former trainer observed personally.

She spent three years as a beluga trainer, a role that entailed gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so astounded by the details and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She developed a special affection for a pair of whales with different temperaments.

“Eve chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both changed the way I view bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which advocates say points to the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not open to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly results of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory 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 inquiry, but earlier asserted: “The whales … obtain far better veterinary services and 24/7 supervision than any person in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the facility in the spring following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought details of the death were leaked to the press and she was released soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the park’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a one beluga would require “considerable staff”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She backs calls for the whales to be taken promptly from the facility, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

In late September, the nation’s government official denied a request to send the whales to China.

“To approve the proposal would have meant a continued existence in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals should be in the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an relocation that would prolong the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reflect a broader incorrect perception of the facts of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need human care for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers attempt to find a resolution, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of nourishment for local populations.

A proposed refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received regulatory clearance, has proven highly debated. The prospective location, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Proponents remain positive that it could in time represent a long term solution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

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

An official, head of the plan, said the location will replicate the mental engagement and diet the whales get from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|