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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a shuttered park, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been carefully observed by the people who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities disallowed the transfer of the belugas to China, the embattled facility near Niagara Falls where they are kept stated it would consider to put them down unless the federal government covers the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and communal behavior point to they are highly cognitive mammals – something one caretaker observed first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a whale caretaker, a job that involved building relationships of the sea creatures.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the details and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She cultivated a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing personalities.

“Eve chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Each altered the way I understand bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales evolved against a context of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her tenure at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, died. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say indicates the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly effects of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a inquiry, but in the past asserted: “The whales … get far superior veterinary services and 24/7 care than any individual in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the park in recent months following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the facility thought details of the death were shared to the press and she was released soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and staff members in despair. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any attempts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

Burgess advocates for calls for the whales to be removed immediately from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

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

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a ongoing life in enclosure and a return to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that whales are meant for the ocean, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in good conscience authorize an export that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reveal a broader lack of awareness of the realities of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, suggestions have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of food for Inuit communities.

A planned sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received government approval, has shown to be most controversial. The future facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a permanent answer for eight of the whales.

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

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a workable approach in the coming months.

The project lead, director of the initiative, said the site will mimic the cognitive activities and diet the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|