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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable small “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a big but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a tussle between a defunct facility, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned debate over their destiny often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the federal government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are housed warned to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the expense of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and group interactions suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something one caretaker learned first-hand.

Burgess spent three years as a whale caretaker, a role that involved building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She formed a particular love for two female belugas with contrasting personalities.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Each changed the way I view bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her three years at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say indicates the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the cessation. “Structural materials is breaking off from the pools because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not respond to a questionnaire, but earlier asserted: “The whales … obtain far better veterinary services and around the clock attention than any individual in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in early March following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility believed particulars of the death were leaked to the news outlets and she was fired soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any plans to put down even a one beluga would require “considerable manpower”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

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

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

“Granting the application would have meant a perpetual life in enclosure and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the ocean, not in tanks for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience approve an transfer that would continue the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reflect a more general incorrect perception of the facts of living conditions for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need human care for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials attempt to find a solution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for local populations.

A suggested refuge in the region of eastern Canada, which has received official endorsement, has been contentious. The planned site, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain positive that it could ultimately represent a long term solution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the idea of a refuge indicates a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a viable approach in the short term.

The project lead, leader of the initiative, said the location will simulate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|