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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a kind nature.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have been entangled in a struggle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their fate often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the federal government blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are kept threatened to end their lives unless the government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and group interactions point to they are remarkably smart creatures – something a former trainer observed first-hand.

She spent several years as a whale caretaker, a job that involved building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so surprised by the nuances and unique traits in their dispositions. She developed a particular love for two female belugas with different natures.

“Eve selected me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They altered the way I view bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her time at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, died. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the facility links to age-related causes, but which advocates say indicates the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The facility did not open to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the cessation. “Structural materials is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not comment to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … get far better medical attention and 24/7 supervision than any person in the Britain, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in recent months following the passing of a beluga, an ailing beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park thought details of the death were shared to the news outlets and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any plans to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “immense personnel”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

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

In the autumn, Canada’s government official denied a bid to send the whales to China.

“Granting the proposal would have meant a ongoing situation in enclosure and a return to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals should be in the sea, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience approve an transfer that would prolong the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s statements reflect a broader misunderstanding of the circumstances of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials attempt to find a resolution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of food for local populations.

A planned sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received government approval, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a long term answer for a number of the whales.

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

Some experts say the prospect of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the short term.

An official, leader of the initiative, said the facility will replicate the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|