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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have become pawns in a struggle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated debate over their future often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the federal government disallowed the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are held threatened to put them down unless the federal government funds the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has refused that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and group interactions indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something one caretaker learned personally.

She spent several years as a beluga trainer, a job that involved gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so astounded by the details and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She cultivated a deep bond for two female belugas with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale chose me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales developed against a context of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her three years at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say points to the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes results of the shutdown. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and swim around with pieces in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not comment to a request for comment, but earlier stated: “The whales … obtain far higher quality health care and around the clock care than any individual in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in the spring following the death of a beluga, an unwell beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility believed details of the death were disclosed to the media and she was let go not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and staff members in despair. She says the park’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any plans to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “considerable manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

She supports calls for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In late September, Canada’s fisheries minister turned down a request to send the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the request would have meant a ongoing existence in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As the public, we know that belugas should be in the ocean, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in good conscience approve an export that would continue the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s remarks reflect a broader lack of awareness of the realities of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a answer, ideas have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A suggested refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned site, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a permanent answer for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the prospect of a sanctuary represents a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a viable plan in the near future.

The project lead, director of the sanctuary project, said the location will replicate the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|