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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their destiny often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the people who work with them regularly.

After the federal government prevented the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to put them down unless the federal government covers the upkeep of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something a former trainer observed personally.

Burgess spent three years as a whale caretaker, a role that entailed building relationships of the sea creatures.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the details and quirks in their dispositions. She cultivated a particular love for two female belugas with different personalities.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales evolved against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her time at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which activists say points to the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The facility did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she observed directly consequences of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and swim around with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not comment to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … get far better veterinary services and constant care than any human in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in recent months following the demise of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the facility suspected information of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was fired soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left her and staff members in despair. She says the facility’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any efforts to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “considerable manpower”, vehicles and machinery.

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

Burgess advocates for calls for the whales to be transferred promptly from the park, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In recent months, Canada’s fisheries minister turned down a proposal to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the request would have meant a continued situation in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official stated. “As society, we know that belugas should be in the ocean, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing approve an relocation that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments reflect a broader misunderstanding of the facts of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As officials work to find a solution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of food for Indigenous peoples.

A planned refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received regulatory clearance, has proven contentious. The future facility, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a permanent answer for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the prospect of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable solution in the short term.

The project lead, head of the initiative, said the facility will simulate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|