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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but guardian-like companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a tussle between a shuttered park, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated controversy over their destiny often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the Canadian government blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed warned to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the expense of their survival. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and group interactions point to they are deeply intelligent mammals – something one caretaker observed first-hand.

Burgess spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a position that entailed gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so surprised by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She cultivated a particular love for a pair of whales with contrasting temperaments.

“Eve chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Each altered the way I perceive bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales developed against a context of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

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

The facility did not open to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the shutdown. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and swim around with fragments in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past stated: “The whales … obtain far better veterinary services and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in the spring following the passing of Eos, an sick beluga the employees had to put down. She said the facility thought details of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was fired not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and other caretakers in despair. She says the park’s threat to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any plans to euthanize even a one beluga would require “considerable manpower”, vehicles and machinery.

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

She supports requests for the whales to be removed promptly from the park, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, the nation’s fisheries minister rejected a bid to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the application would have meant a continued life in enclosure and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the ocean, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience approve an relocation that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reveal a more general lack of awareness of the facts of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a key source of food for Inuit communities.

A suggested sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received regulatory clearance, has shown to be highly debated. The planned site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain positive that it could eventually represent a sustainable resolution for eight of the whales.

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

Different voices say the possibility of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a feasible approach in the coming months.

An official, head of the plan, said the site will mimic the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|