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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an cute small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a tussle between a shuttered park, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their fate often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the people who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the struggling amusement park near the famous falls where they are held threatened to put them down unless the federal government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and social skills point to they are highly cognitive mammals – something a former trainer learned directly.

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

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the details and unique traits in their personalities. She formed a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing natures.

“One whale chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Each transformed the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the park links to natural mortality, but which activists say points to the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The facility did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes results of the cessation. “Structural materials is breaking off from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with pieces in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not respond to a request for comment, but previously stated: “The whales … receive far higher quality medical attention and around the clock care than any person in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in recent months following the death of a beluga, an unwell beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the park suspected particulars of the death were disclosed to the news outlets and she was released not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any attempts to put down even a one beluga would require “considerable manpower”, equipment and machinery.

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

Burgess advocates for demands for the whales to be transferred right away from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

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

“Granting the proposal would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that belugas should be in the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an export that would prolong the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s statements indicate a broader incorrect perception of the realities of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers work to find a resolution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of nourishment for local populations.

A suggested refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has proven highly debated. The prospective site, which includes a large area of protected cove, is not yet built. Advocates remain hopeful that it could in time represent a long term answer for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the possibility of a protected habitat reflects a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a viable plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, leader of the plan, said the site will mimic the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|