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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a big but guardian-like companion. Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a disagreement between a defunct facility, public officials and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the intense discussion over their destiny often fails to consider the nuances 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 Canadian government blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the struggling facility near the famous falls where they are held threatened to end their lives unless the authorities funds the cost of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and communal behavior suggest they are deeply intelligent mammals – something a former trainer observed first-hand.

Burgess spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a role that involved earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Developing those relationships 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 rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so amazed by the details and quirks in their characters. She formed a special affection for a pair of whales with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “They changed the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales progressed against a context of growing public opposition to their confinement.

During her three years at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility links to expected lifespan, but which advocates say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the recent season, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes effects of the cessation. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far better veterinary services and around the clock care than any person in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the park in the spring following the passing of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility thought information of the death were disclosed to the press and she was released soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the park’s threat to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a one beluga would require “immense staff”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

Burgess supports calls for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official denied a bid to export the whales to China.

“Allowing the request would have meant a perpetual existence in confinement and a return to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the ocean, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an transfer that would prolong the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reveal a more general lack of awareness of the facts of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in enclosed habitats and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As authorities struggle to find a answer, ideas have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal 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 refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received government approval, has proven most controversial. The future facility, which includes 100 acres of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain positive that it could ultimately represent a sustainable solution for some of the whales.

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

Some experts say the idea of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the short term.

An official, director of the initiative, said the site will mimic the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales obtain 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|