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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute little “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a struggle between a closed attraction, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those closest to the whales say the impassioned debate over their fate often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been closely studied by the people who see them each day.

After the national authorities prevented the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are housed threatened to put them down unless the federal government funds the expense of their care. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, problem solving and social skills point to they are deeply intelligent creatures – something one caretaker discovered first-hand.

She spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that entailed building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the details and unique traits in their characters. She formed a special affection for two female belugas with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale accepted me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “They changed the way I understand bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her connection with the whales developed against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her time at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say points to the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the recent season, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes effects of the cessation. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and swim around with fragments in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not respond to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … obtain far better medical attention and constant care than any individual in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in recent months following the demise of a beluga, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park suspected particulars of the death were disclosed to the press and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “significant staff”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

Burgess supports demands for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

In the autumn, Canada’s fisheries minister rejected a bid to export the whales to China.

“Allowing the request would have meant a ongoing existence in enclosure and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As the public, we know that whales belong in the wild, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience approve an transfer that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s remarks indicate a wider lack of awareness of the facts of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

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

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a answer, ideas have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A suggested protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received regulatory clearance, has been contentious. The planned facility, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a sustainable resolution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a feasible solution in the near future.

Charles Vinick, leader of the initiative, said the location will simulate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|