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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an charming small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but fiercely protective companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a tussle between a shuttered park, government authorities and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated controversy over their future often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who see them each day.

After the national authorities disallowed the transfer of the belugas to China, the struggling facility near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to end their lives unless the authorities funds the cost of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and communal behavior point to they are deeply intelligent creatures – something one caretaker discovered first-hand.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a position that involved earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Building up 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. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless surprised by the details and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She cultivated a particular love for two female belugas with different natures.

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

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales progressed against a context of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her tenure at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a number which the park attributes to natural mortality, but which advocates say indicates the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The park did not operate to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the shutdown. “Structural materials is falling apart from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and swim around with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a inquiry, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far higher quality veterinary services and constant care than any individual in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was fired from the park in early March following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park thought information of the death were disclosed to the news outlets and she was let go soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any attempts to put down even a single beluga would require “significant personnel”, equipment and heavy equipment.

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

She supports calls for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

In late September, the nation’s government official turned down a bid to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the application would have meant a perpetual life in enclosure and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the minister commented. “As the public, we know that whales should be in the wild, not in pools for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing approve an export that would prolong the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s remarks reflect a broader incorrect perception of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to realize these are whales that have spent their whole lives in enclosed habitats and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a solution, suggestions have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received government approval, has shown to be highly debated. The planned site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Advocates remain hopeful that it could in time represent a permanent solution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the prospect of a sanctuary represents a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the short term.

The project lead, director of the plan, said the site will replicate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|