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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable small “sweetheart”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a tussle between a shuttered park, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their fate often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government blocked the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the authorities covers the expense of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and communal behavior indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something a former trainer learned personally.

Burgess spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those relationships over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and quirks in their personalities. She cultivated a special affection for a pair of whales with opposing temperaments.

“One whale selected me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Both altered the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her time at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say indicates the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not admit visitors to the visitors over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly consequences of the shutdown. “Structural materials is breaking off from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far superior health care and constant care than any person in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in recent months following the passing of a beluga, an unwell beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the park believed details of the incident were disclosed to the news outlets and she was released not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any efforts to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be taken immediately from the park, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

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

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a continued situation in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing authorize an transfer that would continue the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements reveal a more general misunderstanding of the facts of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have spent their whole lives 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 authorities work to find a solution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of sustenance for local populations.

A planned sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has been highly debated. The planned site, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain positive that it could in time represent a permanent solution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the possibility of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a viable approach in the short term.

The project lead, leader of the initiative, said the location will mimic the cognitive activities and diet the whales receive from caretakers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|