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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming small “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but guardian-like companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have been caught in a tussle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned debate over their future often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are housed warned to put them down unless the federal government funds the cost of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, intellectual tasks and social skills indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something one caretaker learned personally.

She spent several years as a whale caretaker, a position that required gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those relationships over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and quirks in their dispositions. She cultivated a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with different personalities.

“Eve accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “They transformed the way I understand bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her tenure at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, died. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park ascribes to natural mortality, but which advocates say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly effects of the shutdown. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past claimed: “The whales … get far superior medical attention and around the clock attention than any person in the Britain, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was fired from the park in the spring following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the park suspected details of the death were disclosed to the press and she was released soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and current and former trainers in distress. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” undertaking, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a individual beluga would require “immense manpower”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

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

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

“Granting the proposal would have meant a continued situation in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As society, we know that marine mammals should be in the wild, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience approve an relocation that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reflect a broader lack of awareness of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers struggle to find a solution, proposals have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of nourishment for local populations.

A planned protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received official endorsement, has shown to be contentious. The planned facility, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a long term resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the near future.

The project lead, head of the initiative, said the location will mimic the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|