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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “playful character”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a tussle between a closed attraction, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated controversy over their fate often ignores the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been carefully observed by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the federal government disallowed the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the government pays for the expense of their care. Canada’s marine resources official has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and group interactions point to they are deeply intelligent mammals – something one caretaker observed personally.

She spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a role that entailed earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and unique traits in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing temperaments.

“Eve chose me. The other demanded work,” she said. “They changed the way I view connection.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s interaction with the whales evolved against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her three years at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which activists say reflects the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The facility did not open to the public over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and move about with pieces in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not reply to a inquiry, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far better health care and constant care than any person in the Britain, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was terminated from the park in early March following the passing of Eos, an sick beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the park suspected details of the incident were leaked to the press and she was fired not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the park’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “significant manpower”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for demands for the whales to be taken right away from the facility, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

In recent months, the nation’s fisheries minister denied a request to send the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a perpetual situation in confinement and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience authorize an transfer that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s remarks reveal a more general misunderstanding of the realities of living conditions for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers work to find a answer, ideas have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of nourishment for local populations.

A planned protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received government approval, has been contentious. The future site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a permanent answer for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary represents a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a viable approach in the short term.

Charles Vinick, head of the initiative, said the location will replicate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|