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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a big but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a shuttered park, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense discussion over their future often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the humans who see them each day.

After the national authorities blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are held threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the cost of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, problem solving and group interactions indicate they are highly cognitive mammals – something Kristy Burgess learned personally.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that entailed earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the nuances and quirks in their characters. She formed a particular love for a pair of whales with contrasting temperaments.

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

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales evolved against a context of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the park ascribes to natural mortality, but which campaigners say reflects the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and swim around with pieces in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not comment to a request for comment, but previously claimed: “The whales … get far superior veterinary services and constant attention than any individual in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in early March following the demise of a beluga, an sick beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the facility suspected details of the death were leaked to the press and she was let go soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the park’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any plans to put down even a individual beluga would require “immense manpower”, equipment and machinery.

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

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

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

“To approve the proposal would have meant a continued life in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that belugas are meant for the ocean, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing permit an relocation that would continue the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reveal a more general incorrect perception of the facts of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a solution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of food for Inuit communities.

A proposed protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which has received government approval, has shown to be contentious. The planned location, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a permanent answer for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the possibility of a refuge reflects a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a viable approach in the short term.

An official, head of the plan, said the site will replicate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|