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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an charming little “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a big but guardian-like friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” 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, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the intense debate over their destiny often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been closely studied by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the national authorities blocked the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed warned to put them down unless the authorities pays for the expense of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and social skills indicate they are deeply intelligent creatures – something Kristy Burgess learned first-hand.

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

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the details and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She developed a special affection for a pair of whales with contrasting natures.

“One whale selected me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Each changed the way I perceive bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales evolved against a background of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her three years at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a number which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which advocates say points to the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The park did not admit visitors to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is breaking off from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not respond to a inquiry, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far higher quality health care and around the clock supervision than any human in the Britain, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was fired from the facility in early March following the demise of Eos, an sick beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park suspected particulars of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was released soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the park’s threat to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a individual beluga would require “significant personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She supports requests for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, the nation’s fisheries minister denied a proposal to export the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the application would have meant a perpetual life in enclosure and a return to public entertainment,” the minister stated. “As society, we know that whales are meant for the ocean, not in pools for our amusement. I could not in good conscience permit an export that would continue the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s remarks reflect a broader lack of awareness of the realities of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The people needs to realize these are whales that have spent their whole lives in enclosed habitats and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers work to find a solution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a key source of food for Indigenous peoples.

A suggested protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received regulatory clearance, has been contentious. The planned location, which includes a large area of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain optimistic that it could in time represent a sustainable answer for eight of the whales.

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

Different voices say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a viable approach in the near future.

Charles Vinick, head of the sanctuary project, said the facility will replicate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales get 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|