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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an adorable little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a struggle between a defunct facility, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated controversy over their destiny often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the authorities funds the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart mammals – something one caretaker observed directly.

She spent several years as a beluga trainer, a job that entailed building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was even so astounded by the details and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She formed a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting natures.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Each changed the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her tenure at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility links to age-related causes, but which activists say reflects the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and swim around with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but previously asserted: “The whales … get far better veterinary services and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was terminated from the park in the spring following the demise of a beluga, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the facility believed particulars of the incident were leaked to the media and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any plans to euthanize even a single beluga would require “significant personnel”, trucks and machinery.

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

Burgess backs calls for the whales to be taken promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In late September, the nation’s fisheries minister denied a proposal to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the application would have meant a continued life in confinement and a reversion to public entertainment,” the official commented. “As society, we know that belugas should be in the ocean, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would prolong the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s remarks reflect a wider misunderstanding of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a answer, proposals have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for local populations.

A planned refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The prospective site, which includes extensive space of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a sustainable solution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the prospect of a sanctuary represents a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a viable plan in the short term.

An official, head of the plan, said the location will simulate the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales get from specialists, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|