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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming little “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a tussle between a shuttered park, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned debate over their fate often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the federal government prevented the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled facility near Niagara Falls where they are kept warned to euthanize them unless the authorities covers the upkeep of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and group interactions point to they are highly cognitive animals – something a former trainer learned directly.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that involved building relationships of the aquatic animals.

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

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so astounded by the details and unique traits in their personalities. She cultivated a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing personalities.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales developed against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say points to the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The park did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the shutdown. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and move about with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not reply to a request for comment, but in the past stated: “The whales … obtain far better medical attention and 24/7 supervision than any human in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was fired from the park in the spring following the passing of a beluga, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park suspected particulars of the death were disclosed to the press and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any efforts to put down even a one beluga would require “immense manpower”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for demands for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, Canada’s government official rejected a proposal to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the request would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a return to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience approve an relocation that would continue the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments indicate a broader incorrect perception of the realities of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities work to find a resolution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of sustenance for local populations.

A proposed protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has proven most controversial. The future facility, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a long term resolution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “only an trial” in the whales’ future.

Others say the prospect of a sanctuary indicates a changing attitudes away from captive facilities and could represent a viable approach in the near future.

Charles Vinick, director of the plan, said the site will simulate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|