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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an cute small “sweetheart”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a disagreement between a shuttered park, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense discussion over their destiny often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed warned to euthanize them unless the authorities funds the upkeep of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and social skills indicate they are deeply intelligent animals – something Kristy Burgess observed first-hand.

Burgess spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a job that involved earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over 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 highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the nuances and quirks in their characters. She developed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with different natures.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Each transformed the way I perceive relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales evolved against a background of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her three years at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which activists say indicates the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand effects of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the tanks because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and swim around with pieces in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a questionnaire, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far better medical attention and around the clock care than any individual in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the passing of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility suspected information of the incident were shared to the media and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “significant staff”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be transferred right away from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

In late September, the nation’s government official rejected a bid to export the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the request would have meant a ongoing existence in captivity and a reversion to public entertainment,” the official stated. “As society, we know that marine mammals are meant for the wild, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing permit an relocation that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments indicate a wider incorrect perception of the circumstances of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers 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 wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of nourishment for local populations.

A planned protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has shown to be highly debated. The prospective site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Proponents remain optimistic that it could in time represent a permanent solution for eight of the whales.

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

Different voices say the prospect of a refuge represents a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a viable solution in the near future.

The project lead, director of the plan, said the location will replicate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|