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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a defunct facility, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned debate over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been closely studied by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the federal government prevented the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are held threatened to euthanize them unless the authorities funds the expense of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and group interactions suggest they are deeply intelligent mammals – something a former trainer discovered first-hand.

Burgess spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a position that required building relationships of the sea creatures.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She cultivated a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing personalities.

“One whale accepted me. The other required effort,” she said. “Both transformed the way I understand bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales developed against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her three years at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, died. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park links to expected lifespan, but which advocates say indicates the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The park did not operate to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes results of the cessation. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they take pieces and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but earlier claimed: “The whales … obtain far higher quality medical attention and 24/7 supervision than any person in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was dismissed from the park in recent months following the demise of Eos, an unwell beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility thought details of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was released soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s threat to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, trucks and machinery.

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

She supports calls for the whales to be taken immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In late September, Canada’s government official turned down a proposal to transfer the whales to China.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a continued situation in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales belong in the ocean, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience authorize an transfer that would prolong the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s remarks indicate a wider incorrect perception of the realities of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as easy as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers work to find a answer, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A suggested sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has proven most controversial. The planned facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain positive that it could ultimately represent a permanent solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the prospect of a sanctuary represents a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the coming months.

The project lead, director of the sanctuary project, said the facility will simulate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|