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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated debate over their destiny often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the people who see them each day.

After the Canadian government prevented the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled facility near Niagara Falls where they are housed threatened to put them down unless the authorities covers the cost of keeping them alive. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that request, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and social skills suggest they are highly cognitive animals – something Kristy Burgess discovered personally.

Burgess spent several years as a beluga trainer, a job that involved building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and quirks in their personalities. She developed a special affection for a pair of whales with contrasting temperaments.

“Eve selected me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales developed against a background of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her three years at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, died. 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 poor conditions in which they were kept.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with chunks in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not comment to a request for comment, but previously stated: “The whales … receive far superior health care and around the clock attention than any human in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in recent months following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park thought information of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any attempts to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and machinery.

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

She supports demands for the whales to be removed right away from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official rejected a proposal to export the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a continued life in enclosure and a reversion to public entertainment,” the minister stated. “As the public, we know that belugas should be in the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an export that would continue the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s statements indicate a wider misunderstanding of the facts of existence for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives 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 ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers work to find a solution, ideas have been put forward, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of nourishment for local populations.

A proposed refuge in the region of eastern Canada, which recently received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned site, which includes a large area of protected cove, is not yet built. Supporters remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a permanent resolution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the possibility of a refuge represents a changing attitudes away from captive facilities and could represent a viable solution in the near future.

Charles Vinick, head of the initiative, said the location will simulate the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain 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|