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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense discussion over their destiny often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the federal government prevented the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are held warned to end their lives unless the government funds the upkeep of their care. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and group interactions suggest they are remarkably smart animals – something a former trainer observed directly.

She spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that involved earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the outset, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was even so surprised by the details and quirks in their personalities. She cultivated a particular love for a pair of whales with different natures.

“One whale chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales developed against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her three years at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and move about with fragments in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a inquiry, but earlier asserted: “The whales … receive 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 park in the spring following the passing of a beluga, an unwell beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the park believed details of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was let go not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the park’s threat to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any efforts to put down even a single beluga would require “significant staff”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She backs demands for the whales to be removed immediately from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

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

“To approve the proposal would have meant a continued life in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As society, we know that whales should be in the ocean, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an relocation that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the official’s statements reflect a wider incorrect perception of the realities of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a answer, ideas have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A proposed sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received official endorsement, has been contentious. The prospective facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a permanent answer for some of the whales.

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

Some experts say the possibility of a refuge represents a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible solution in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, director of the initiative, said the location will replicate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|