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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “playful character”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a big but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a shuttered park, government authorities and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their destiny often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government disallowed the sale of the belugas to China, the embattled facility near Niagara Falls where they are kept warned to euthanize them unless the government funds the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and communal behavior indicate they are remarkably smart animals – something a former trainer observed first-hand.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

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

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the details and unique traits in their dispositions. She developed a deep bond for two female belugas with contrasting natures.

“One whale accepted me. The other required effort,” she said. “Each transformed the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales evolved against a context of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which activists say points to the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The park did not operate to the visitors over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand effects of the cessation. “Concrete is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and move about with pieces in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not comment to a inquiry, but earlier claimed: “The whales … get far better health care and around the clock attention than any person in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was fired from the facility in the spring following the death of Eos, an unwell beluga the employees had to put down. She said the facility thought particulars of the incident were shared to the media and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and current and former trainers in distress. She says the park’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” undertaking, adding any plans to euthanize even a one beluga would require “immense manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess advocates for requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, Canada’s fisheries minister denied a proposal to transfer the whales to China.

“Granting the proposal would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the minister commented. “As society, we know that marine mammals should be in the ocean, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an relocation that would prolong the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reflect a broader lack of awareness of the circumstances of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as easy as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers work to find a resolution, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A proposed refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned location, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain optimistic that it could in time represent a long term answer for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an trial” in the whales’ future.

Others say the idea of a sanctuary reflects a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a workable plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, head of the sanctuary project, said the facility will replicate the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|