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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute small “playful character”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement 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 complexities of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the people who see them each day.

After the national authorities disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are kept warned to euthanize them unless the authorities covers the cost of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and group interactions indicate they are deeply intelligent animals – something Kristy Burgess observed first-hand.

Burgess spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that entailed gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so amazed by the details and quirks in their personalities. She developed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale selected me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Both transformed the way I understand bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s interaction with the whales evolved against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the park links to age-related causes, but which advocates say points to the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far better veterinary services and around the clock care than any person in the UK, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the park in early March following the passing of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility believed details of the death were leaked to the media and she was fired soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, equipment and machinery.

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

She advocates for demands for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, Canada’s fisheries minister denied a proposal to transfer the whales to China.

“Granting the application would have meant a continued situation in confinement and a reversion to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals belong in the ocean, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an relocation that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments reveal a wider misunderstanding of the circumstances of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities attempt to find a solution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which recently received regulatory clearance, has proven contentious. The planned site, which includes extensive space of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Advocates remain positive that it could in time represent a permanent resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a sanctuary indicates a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a feasible plan in the coming months.

An official, leader of the sanctuary project, said the location will mimic the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|