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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the impassioned discussion over their future often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the embattled attraction near the famous falls where they are kept warned to end their lives unless the government funds the expense of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and group interactions point to they are remarkably smart mammals – something one caretaker observed first-hand.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was even so astounded by the details and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She cultivated a particular love for two female belugas with different temperaments.

“Eve selected me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Both changed the way I understand relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales developed against a context of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her three years at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility attributes to natural mortality, but which activists say points to the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly results of the shutdown. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but earlier asserted: “The whales … get far higher quality medical attention and 24/7 care than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in early March following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the park thought particulars of the death were leaked to the media and she was released soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and staff members in despair. She says the facility’s warning to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “significant manpower”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She supports demands for the whales to be transferred immediately from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

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

“To approve the application would have meant a perpetual situation in confinement and a return to public entertainment,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals are meant for the sea, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an export that would continue the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reflect a wider misunderstanding of the circumstances of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a resolution, 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 primary resource of food for Inuit communities.

A proposed refuge in the region of eastern Canada, which has received official endorsement, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective location, which includes extensive space of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a long term answer for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Different voices say the possibility of a sanctuary reflects a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable approach in the coming months.

The project lead, director of the initiative, said the site will mimic the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales get from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|