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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming little “playful character”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but guardian-like friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a shuttered park, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated debate over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the people who see them each day.

After the national authorities blocked the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the authorities pays for the upkeep of their care. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that request, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and communal behavior point to they are remarkably smart mammals – something Kristy Burgess learned directly.

She spent several years as a whale caretaker, a role that involved earning the trust 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 wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the details and quirks in their dispositions. She cultivated a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with different personalities.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both changed the way I perceive bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales progressed against a background of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her three years at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, died. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a number which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which activists say indicates the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes effects of the closure. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and move about with pieces in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far better veterinary services and 24/7 supervision than any person in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the passing of Eos, an sick beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the facility thought information of the death were shared to the press and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and current and former trainers in despair. She says the facility’s threat to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any efforts to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess supports demands for the whales to be transferred immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official denied a request to transfer the whales to China.

“To approve the proposal would have meant a continued life in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official wrote. “As the public, we know that belugas belong in the ocean, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have suffered.”

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

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a resolution, proposals have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a important part of food for local populations.

A planned protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which has received official endorsement, has proven most controversial. The planned facility, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a long term resolution for eight of the whales.

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

Some experts say the possibility of a refuge reflects a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a workable plan in the short term.

An official, head of the initiative, said the facility will replicate the mental engagement and nutrition the whales get from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|