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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but guardian-like friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a shuttered park, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated debate over their fate often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the Canadian government disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are held threatened to end their lives unless the federal government funds the expense of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and group interactions suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something a former trainer discovered personally.

She spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a position that required earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. 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 surprised by the nuances and quirks in their characters. She developed a deep bond for two female belugas with contrasting natures.

“One whale chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They changed the way I view relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, died. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to natural mortality, but which activists say indicates the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The park did not admit visitors to the guests over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly effects of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the tanks because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … get far superior health care and constant attention than any individual in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was terminated from the park in early March following the death of a beluga, an unwell beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility believed particulars of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was released shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the park’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any attempts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “considerable manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

She advocates for demands for the whales to be taken immediately from the park, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, Canada’s fisheries minister rejected a bid to send the whales to China.

“Granting the application would have meant a continued situation in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As society, we know that whales are meant for the sea, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an relocation that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reveal a broader lack of awareness of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials attempt to find a solution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of food for local populations.

A proposed sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which now received official endorsement, has shown to be contentious. The prospective site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain positive that it could ultimately represent a sustainable solution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a changing attitudes away from captive facilities and could represent a workable solution in the near future.

The project lead, director of the plan, said the facility will replicate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|