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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an cute small “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a disagreement between a closed attraction, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense discussion over their fate often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the people who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities blocked the export of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the upkeep of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has refused that demand, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and social skills suggest they are deeply intelligent creatures – something a former trainer learned directly.

She spent several years as a whale caretaker, a job that entailed gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the nuances and quirks in their characters. She developed a deep bond for a pair of whales with contrasting temperaments.

“Eve accepted me. The other required effort,” she said. “Each altered the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her interaction with the whales progressed against a background of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility links to natural mortality, but which activists say points to the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not reply to a inquiry, but earlier stated: “The whales … obtain far higher quality veterinary services and around the clock care than any human in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the park in the spring following the passing of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to put down. She said the park suspected particulars of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was released not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s threat to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” undertaking, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense staff”, equipment and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess advocates for requests for the whales to be removed right away from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In recent months, the nation’s fisheries minister denied a proposal to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the request would have meant a ongoing existence in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the sea, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in good conscience authorize an transfer that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s remarks reflect a more general lack of awareness of the circumstances of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “The public just don’t comprehend that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials attempt to find a solution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A planned protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which now received government approval, has proven highly debated. The future site, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain hopeful that it could in time represent a sustainable answer for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “merely an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the prospect of a refuge represents a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a viable plan in the coming months.

An official, leader of the sanctuary project, said the facility will mimic the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales get from specialists, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|