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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute small “sweetheart”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a tussle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their fate often ignores the complexities 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 federal government disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are held stated it would consider to end their lives unless the authorities pays for the upkeep of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and group interactions suggest they are highly cognitive mammals – something one caretaker learned personally.

She spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a job that entailed earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the subtleties and unique traits in their dispositions. She formed a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with different personalities.

“One whale selected me. The other demanded work,” she said. “They transformed the way I perceive relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales progressed against a background of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her tenure at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility ascribes to natural mortality, but which campaigners say reflects the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the public over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and move about with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not respond to a inquiry, but earlier asserted: “The whales … receive far higher quality health care and constant supervision than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in early March following the death of a beluga, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the facility suspected information of the death were leaked to the media and she was let go soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and staff members in despair. She says the facility’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any plans to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be taken right away from the park, with its crumbling tanks and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, the nation’s fisheries minister rejected a request to export the whales to China.

“To approve the request would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As the public, we know that belugas should be in the ocean, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reflect a wider misunderstanding of the realities of existence for belugas born in captivity.

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

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, ideas 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 important part of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A suggested refuge in the region of eastern Canada, which now received official endorsement, has proven highly debated. The planned facility, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents 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 experiment” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a sanctuary reflects a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a feasible solution in the short term.

The project lead, director of the initiative, said the site will replicate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales get from specialists, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|