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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an cute little “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a disagreement between a defunct facility, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the federal government prevented the export of the belugas to China, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are kept threatened to put them down unless the authorities funds the cost of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart animals – something a former trainer observed first-hand.

She spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a job that involved gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and unique traits in their dispositions. She formed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with different personalities.

“One whale accepted me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “They transformed the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her interaction with the whales evolved against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her time at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand effects of the shutdown. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they take pieces and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not comment to a request for comment, but earlier asserted: “The whales … receive far better health care and 24/7 care than any individual in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in the spring following the death of a beluga, an sick beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park believed information of the incident were leaked to the media and she was let go soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the facility’s warning to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

Burgess supports demands for the whales to be removed promptly from the park, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, Canada’s fisheries minister turned down a request to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the request would have meant a ongoing situation in captivity and a reversion to public entertainment,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s remarks reveal a wider lack of awareness of the facts of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials work to find a resolution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for local populations.

A planned refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received government approval, has proven contentious. The future site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain positive that it could ultimately represent a sustainable answer for eight of the whales.

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

Others say the prospect of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a viable approach in the coming months.

An official, director of the plan, said the location will replicate the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales get from specialists, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|