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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a big but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a struggle between a closed attraction, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the intense discussion over their future often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who see them each day.

After the federal government blocked the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling facility near the famous falls where they are held warned to euthanize them unless the federal government funds the upkeep of keeping them alive. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that request, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and social skills point to they are remarkably smart mammals – something one caretaker observed directly.

Burgess spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required earning the trust 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 wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and unique traits in their characters. She developed a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting personalities.

“Eve selected me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “They altered the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales evolved against a background of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say points to the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not operate to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand effects of the cessation. “Concrete is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and move about with fragments in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not comment to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … get far better medical attention and 24/7 attention than any individual in the UK, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was dismissed from the park in early March following the death of Eos, an unwell beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility thought particulars of the incident were leaked to the media and she was let go not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the facility’s threat to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any attempts to put down even a one beluga would require “significant personnel”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

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

In late September, the nation’s fisheries minister turned down a bid to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the proposal would have meant a continued existence in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the ocean, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience authorize an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments indicate a wider misunderstanding of the facts of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to realize these are whales that have spent their whole lives 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 straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers attempt to find a answer, proposals have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A proposed protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has proven contentious. The planned facility, which includes a large area of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain positive that it could ultimately represent a long term answer for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the prospect of a sanctuary indicates a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable approach in the near future.

Charles Vinick, head of the sanctuary project, said the facility will mimic the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales get from specialists, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|