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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming little “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a disagreement between a closed attraction, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense debate over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the people who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government blocked the export of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and communal behavior indicate they are highly cognitive creatures – something a former trainer discovered directly.

Burgess spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a position that required gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

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

“Eve accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They altered the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales developed against a context of growing public opposition to their confinement.

During her time at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility links to age-related causes, but which activists say points to the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and navigate with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but in the past stated: “The whales … receive far better veterinary services and constant attention than any individual in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in early March following the death of a beluga, an unwell beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park thought information of the death were disclosed to the press and she was released shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the park’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any attempts to put down even a single beluga would require “immense staff”, vehicles and machinery.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be removed promptly from the park, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In recent months, the nation’s government official turned down a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a return to performance for audiences,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing authorize an export that would continue the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reflect a broader lack of awareness of the facts of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities attempt to find a answer, ideas have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A suggested protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received regulatory clearance, has been highly debated. The prospective site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain positive that it could eventually represent a sustainable answer for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a protected habitat represents a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a workable approach in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, head of the plan, said the site will mimic the mental engagement and nutrition the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|