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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an charming small “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated debate over their fate often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the people who see them each day.

After the national authorities prevented the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to end their lives unless the federal government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills point to they are remarkably smart animals – something a former trainer observed directly.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She developed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting personalities.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Both transformed the way I perceive relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales progressed against a context of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her time at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility links to age-related causes, but which activists say points to the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she observed directly consequences of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a request for comment, but in the past stated: “The whales … receive far better veterinary services and around the clock supervision than any person in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the park in recent months following the death of a beluga, an sick beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility believed details of the incident were shared to the media and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and current and former trainers in despair. She says the facility’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs demands for the whales to be removed immediately from the park, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In recent months, the nation’s government official turned down a request to transfer the whales to China.

“Granting the application would have meant a continued situation in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As the public, we know that marine mammals should be in the wild, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience permit an transfer that would continue the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments reflect a wider incorrect perception of the circumstances of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials attempt to find a solution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for local populations.

A suggested refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which has received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The future facility, which includes a large area of protected cove, is not yet built. Advocates remain positive that it could eventually represent a permanent solution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the prospect of a refuge represents a changing attitudes away from captive facilities and could represent a viable solution in the short term.

The project lead, director of the sanctuary project, said the facility will simulate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|