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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed 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 heated discussion over their future often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to put them down unless the government covers the upkeep of their care. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and social skills point to they are remarkably smart animals – something a former trainer observed personally.

She spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a position that involved gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their personalities. She cultivated a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing temperaments.

“Eve chose me. The other demanded work,” she said. “They altered the way I perceive relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her connection with the whales developed against a context of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the park links to natural mortality, but which campaigners say indicates the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not operate to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the shutdown. “Structural materials is falling apart from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a request for comment, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far superior medical attention and 24/7 attention than any human in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in the spring following the demise of a beluga, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the park suspected particulars of the incident were shared to the media and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ outcome has left her and staff members in distress. She says the facility’s threat to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “immense personnel”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

She backs requests for the whales to be transferred right away from the park, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In late September, the nation’s fisheries minister rejected a request to export the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the application would have meant a perpetual situation in enclosure and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official stated. “As the public, we know that marine mammals belong in the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an transfer that would prolong the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reflect a broader incorrect perception of the circumstances of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a solution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A planned protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which has received official endorsement, has shown to be highly debated. The future facility, which includes a large area of protected cove, is not yet built. Supporters remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a sustainable resolution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the possibility of a refuge indicates a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a viable solution in the short term.

An official, leader of the initiative, said the location will replicate the cognitive activities and diet the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|