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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but guardian-like companion. Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their future often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the federal government disallowed the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are held stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and communal behavior indicate they are deeply intelligent mammals – something one caretaker discovered personally.

She spent three years as a beluga trainer, a role that involved earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the nuances and quirks in their personalities. She cultivated a special affection for a pair of whales with opposing natures.

“One whale selected me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They changed the way I understand relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales progressed against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her three years at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility links to natural mortality, but which activists say reflects the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly results of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a request for comment, but previously stated: “The whales … get far better health care and constant supervision than any human in the Britain, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in the spring following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to put down. She said the facility believed details of the incident were leaked to the press and she was fired soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left her and staff members in despair. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any plans to put down even a single beluga would require “immense personnel”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

Burgess supports requests for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, the nation’s fisheries minister turned down a request to send the whales to China.

“Allowing the application would have meant a ongoing existence in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals are meant for the ocean, not in tanks for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience permit an transfer that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments indicate a more general lack of awareness of the realities of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As authorities work to find a solution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A suggested sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has been highly debated. The prospective facility, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a long term resolution for a number 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.

Others say the idea of a sanctuary reflects a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a workable plan in the short term.

An official, director of the sanctuary project, said the location will mimic the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|