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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an charming little “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a closed attraction, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the humans who see them each day.

After the national authorities prevented the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are held threatened to end their lives unless the government covers the expense of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has refused that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and social skills indicate they are deeply intelligent animals – something a former trainer observed first-hand.

Burgess spent three years as a beluga trainer, a position that required earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain mutual trust. 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 astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their dispositions. She formed a particular love for two female belugas with contrasting personalities.

“Eve accepted me. The other required effort,” she said. “They altered the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales developed against a background of rising activist criticism to their confinement.

During her tenure at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility links to age-related causes, but which activists say points to the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The facility did not operate to the public over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not reply to a questionnaire, but in the past claimed: “The whales … obtain far better health care and around the clock supervision than any human in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in the spring following the demise of Eos, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park thought details of the death were leaked to the press and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and other caretakers in anguish. She says the park’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any attempts to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

“It’s impossible in hell the employees would ever do it,” she said.

Burgess backs demands for the whales to be removed promptly from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

In recent months, Canada’s fisheries minister rejected a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a ongoing existence in enclosure and a return to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the sea, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing permit an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements reveal a wider lack of awareness of the circumstances of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials attempt to find a answer, ideas have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of food for local populations.

A suggested protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which now received regulatory clearance, has been most controversial. The future facility, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain positive that it could in time represent a sustainable resolution for eight of the whales.

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

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a feasible solution in the short term.

Charles Vinick, head of the sanctuary project, said the location will mimic the mental engagement and diet the whales get from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|