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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense controversy over their destiny often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who see them each day.

After the federal government prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the authorities pays for the expense of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that request, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart animals – something Kristy Burgess discovered first-hand.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a position that involved earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She formed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing temperaments.

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

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales evolved against a context of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her three years at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the park attributes to expected lifespan, but which advocates say points to the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The park did not operate to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes results of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and swim around with fragments in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far higher quality veterinary services and around the clock care than any individual in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in early March following the demise of a beluga, an sick beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility suspected particulars of the death were shared to the news outlets and she was fired not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the park’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any plans to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “significant staff”, vehicles and machinery.

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

Burgess supports requests for the whales to be removed promptly from the park, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, Canada’s government official denied a bid to send the whales to China.

“Allowing the application would have meant a perpetual situation in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the minister commented. “As the public, we know that whales are meant for the sea, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience approve an relocation that would continue the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reveal a wider misunderstanding of the circumstances of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities struggle to find a solution, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A proposed sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned facility, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Proponents remain positive that it could in time represent a long term solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the prospect of a refuge represents a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a viable solution in the short term.

Charles Vinick, leader of the initiative, said the location will replicate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|