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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have been entangled in a tussle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense controversy over their future often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been closely studied by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the federal government disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are kept stated it would consider to put them down unless the government pays for the expense of their survival. Canada’s marine resources official has rejected that request, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and communal behavior point to they are deeply intelligent animals – something one caretaker discovered directly.

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

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

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the details and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She developed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting temperaments.

“Eve selected me. The other required effort,” she said. “Both altered the way I understand bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her interaction with the whales progressed against a context of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her three years at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, died. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the facility ascribes to age-related causes, but which activists say points to the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not operate to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes effects of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not respond to a questionnaire, but earlier asserted: “The whales … receive far superior health care and constant care than any person in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was fired from the park in recent months following the death of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility thought particulars of the incident were leaked to the media and she was fired soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the park’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any attempts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “significant manpower”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

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

In the autumn, Canada’s government official turned down a request to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the application would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a reversion to public entertainment,” the official stated. “As society, we know that whales should be in the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience permit an export that would prolong the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments indicate a more general misunderstanding of the circumstances of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, proposals have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A proposed sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has shown to be highly debated. The prospective site, which includes a large area of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain positive that it could in time represent a sustainable resolution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a protected habitat indicates a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a workable plan in the coming months.

The project lead, leader of the initiative, said the site will mimic the mental engagement and nutrition the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|