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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “playful character”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a struggle between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense debate over their fate often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been closely studied by the people who see them each day.

After the federal government disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the struggling amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to end their lives unless the government covers the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has refused that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and social skills point to they are remarkably smart animals – something a former trainer learned personally.

Burgess spent three years as a beluga trainer, a position that involved earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She developed a particular love for two female belugas with contrasting personalities.

“Eve chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Both transformed the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s interaction with the whales progressed against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, died. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which advocates say points to the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly consequences of the cessation. “Structural materials is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far better veterinary services and around the clock attention than any person in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the park in recent months following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the park believed particulars of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any plans to put down even a single beluga would require “immense personnel”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess advocates for requests for the whales to be taken immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, Canada’s fisheries minister turned down a proposal to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the request would have meant a perpetual situation in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that marine mammals belong in the wild, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience approve an export that would prolong the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reflect a broader incorrect perception of the facts of life for belugas born in captivity.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers attempt to find a resolution, proposals have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A proposed sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has been contentious. The planned facility, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain positive that it could ultimately represent a sustainable answer for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “only an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the possibility of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the near future.

An official, head of the plan, said the site will mimic the mental engagement and nutrition the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|