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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute small “sweetheart”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a worm. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a struggle between a shuttered park, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been closely studied by the people who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government blocked the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the cost of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills suggest they are highly cognitive mammals – something a former trainer discovered directly.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a job that entailed building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those relationships over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She formed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with different natures.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They changed the way I understand connection.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales progressed against a context of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her time at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a number which the facility links to age-related causes, but which advocates say points to the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The facility did not open to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the shutdown. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and swim around with fragments in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past claimed: “The whales … get far higher quality veterinary services and constant attention than any human in the Britain, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility suspected details of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any efforts to put down even a individual beluga would require “immense manpower”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She backs demands for the whales to be transferred right away from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s fisheries minister rejected a proposal to export the whales to China.

“Allowing the request would have meant a continued situation in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that marine mammals should be in the wild, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing permit an transfer that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reveal a broader misunderstanding of the facts of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials attempt to find a resolution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A suggested sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has shown to be highly debated. The future facility, which includes extensive space of protected cove, is not yet built. Supporters remain optimistic that it could in time represent a permanent solution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “only an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the idea of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a workable approach in the short term.

An official, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will replicate the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|