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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming small “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but fiercely protective companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have become pawns in a disagreement between a closed attraction, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their destiny often ignores the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the export of the belugas to China, the embattled attraction near Niagara Falls where they are kept warned to put them down unless the authorities covers the cost of keeping them alive. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and social skills indicate they are highly cognitive creatures – something one caretaker learned first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a beluga trainer, a role that required gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Developing those relationships over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. 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 gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so amazed by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She developed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting personalities.

“Eve accepted me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Both transformed the way I view relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales evolved against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her time at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The facility did not open to the public over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not reply to a questionnaire, but in the past stated: “The whales … obtain far superior health care and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

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

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and current and former trainers in distress. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “immense personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be transferred immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, Canada’s fisheries minister denied a request to transfer the whales to China.

“Granting the request would have meant a ongoing life in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in tanks for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing permit an export that would prolong the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s remarks reflect a wider incorrect perception of the facts of life for belugas raised in confinement.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities work to find a solution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which now received official endorsement, has proven highly debated. The prospective site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a sustainable solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the idea of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a viable solution in the near future.

The project lead, head of the plan, said the site will simulate the mental engagement and diet the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|