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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an cute small “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a disagreement between a defunct facility, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated discussion over their fate often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been carefully observed by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the federal government prevented the export of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the authorities covers the cost of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and group interactions point to they are deeply intelligent creatures – something one caretaker discovered first-hand.

She spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that required gaining confidence of the marine predators.

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

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She developed a deep bond for a pair of whales with contrasting temperaments.

“Eve chose me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Both changed the way I view connection.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales progressed against a background of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her tenure at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility ascribes to age-related causes, but which activists say points to the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The park did not operate to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and swim around with pieces in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a request for comment, but earlier stated: “The whales … obtain far better health care and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

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

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and current and former trainers in despair. She says the park’s threat to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a one beluga would require “significant personnel”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

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

In recent months, the nation’s fisheries minister turned down a request to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the request would have meant a continued existence in confinement and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the minister commented. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals are meant for the ocean, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing approve an transfer that would prolong the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reveal a broader lack of awareness of the realities of existence for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a solution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A proposed refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned facility, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Advocates remain optimistic that it could in time represent a long term solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the possibility of a refuge represents a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a viable approach in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, leader of the sanctuary project, said the location will simulate the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|