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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have been entangled in a tussle between a shuttered park, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated discussion over their future often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are held warned to put them down unless the federal government pays for the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and communal behavior indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something Kristy Burgess discovered personally.

Burgess spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a role that required earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and unique traits in their dispositions. She cultivated a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing personalities.

“One whale selected me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Each altered the way I perceive bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her connection with the whales developed against a context of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park attributes to natural mortality, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not admit visitors to the public over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the cessation. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far superior health care and constant attention than any person in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in early March following the death of Eos, an sick beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the park suspected particulars of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in despair. She says the park’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any plans to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “immense manpower”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

She supports demands for the whales to be taken promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In recent months, the nation’s government official rejected a bid to transfer the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a continued situation in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an transfer that would prolong the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments reflect a wider incorrect perception of the realities of living conditions for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a answer, suggestions have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A planned sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received regulatory clearance, has been contentious. The future facility, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain positive that it could in time represent a sustainable resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the idea of a protected habitat indicates a changing attitudes away from captive facilities and could represent a feasible solution in the near future.

The project lead, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will replicate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|