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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute little “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a disagreement between a defunct facility, public officials and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated debate over their fate often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government prevented the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are held stated it would consider to put them down unless the authorities funds the cost of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and communal behavior indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something Kristy Burgess discovered first-hand.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a job that involved earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the subtleties and quirks in their personalities. She developed a deep bond for two female belugas with different natures.

“One whale chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Each transformed the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales developed against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their confinement.

During her time at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, died. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility links to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not operate to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand effects of the shutdown. “Structural materials is breaking off from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a request for comment, but previously asserted: “The whales … obtain far better medical attention and 24/7 care than any person in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the park in recent months following the death of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park believed particulars of the death were disclosed to the media and she was released soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left her and staff members in distress. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense staff”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

She backs demands for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In recent months, Canada’s government official rejected a proposal to export the whales to China.

“Allowing the application would have meant a continued situation in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing permit an export that would continue the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reveal a more general misunderstanding of the circumstances of existence for belugas born in captivity.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers work to find a resolution, proposals have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received government approval, has shown to be contentious. The planned location, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a permanent solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the prospect of a refuge represents a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a viable solution in the near future.

The project lead, director of the sanctuary project, said the location will simulate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|