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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their fate often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government blocked the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled attraction near Niagara Falls where they are kept warned to euthanize them unless the authorities funds the expense of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that request, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and social skills suggest they are deeply intelligent animals – something one caretaker observed first-hand.

She spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that involved earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and unique traits in their dispositions. She developed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing natures.

“One whale chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They changed the way I perceive connection.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales progressed against a background of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, died. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to expected lifespan, but which advocates say indicates the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the public over the summer, but the former trainer says she observed directly consequences of the shutdown. “Structural materials 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 pieces in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a questionnaire, but earlier stated: “The whales … get far higher quality medical attention and constant supervision than any human in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was fired from the facility in the spring following the passing of a beluga, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the park believed details of the incident were shared to the news outlets and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and current and former trainers in distress. She says the park’s warning to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, trucks and specialized tools.

“It cannot happen in hell the caretakers would ever do it,” she said.

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

In the autumn, the nation’s fisheries minister rejected a proposal to send the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a ongoing situation in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” the official stated. “As society, we know that belugas are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience permit an transfer that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s statements reveal a wider lack of awareness of the realities of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “The public just don’t comprehend that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers struggle to find a answer, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of food for Indigenous peoples.

A planned refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received regulatory clearance, has shown to be contentious. The future site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a permanent answer for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the possibility of a sanctuary reflects a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable approach in the near future.

An official, leader of the initiative, said the facility will simulate the cognitive activities and diet the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|