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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable small “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a closed attraction, government authorities and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense controversy over their future often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities disallowed the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial facility near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to end their lives unless the government pays for the upkeep of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that request, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and communal behavior suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something a former trainer observed personally.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a role that entailed gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She formed a special affection for two female belugas with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale chose me. The other required effort,” she said. “They changed the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales progressed against a context of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her tenure at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the park attributes to natural mortality, but which activists say indicates the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The facility did not admit visitors to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and move about with pieces in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not comment to a request for comment, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far superior medical attention and around the clock supervision than any person in the Britain, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was fired from the facility in recent months following the demise of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to put down. She said the facility suspected details of the incident were shared to the news outlets and she was fired not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any attempts to put down even a one beluga would require “immense manpower”, trucks and heavy equipment.

“There’s no way in hell the staff would ever do it,” she said.

She advocates for calls for the whales to be taken promptly from the facility, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

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

“To approve the proposal would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that marine mammals are meant for the sea, not in pools for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing approve an export that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements reflect a more general lack of awareness of the realities of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a solution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a key source of food for Inuit communities.

A suggested sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which now received official endorsement, has shown to be highly debated. The future location, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, is not yet built. Proponents remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a sustainable answer for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “merely an trial” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the idea of a protected habitat indicates a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a feasible approach in the short term.

Charles Vinick, leader of the plan, said the location will simulate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales receive from caretakers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|