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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a big but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have been entangled in a struggle between a shuttered park, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense discussion over their future often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the people who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near Niagara Falls where they are kept stated it would consider to put them down unless the authorities funds the expense of their survival. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and social skills indicate they are remarkably smart creatures – something a former trainer discovered first-hand.

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

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so amazed by the subtleties and unique traits in their characters. She cultivated a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing natures.

“One whale chose me. The other demanded work,” she said. “They changed the way I perceive relationships.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s interaction with the whales evolved against a background of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her three years at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility links to expected lifespan, but which advocates say reflects the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the public over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the shutdown. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but earlier claimed: “The whales … obtain far superior health care and around the clock supervision than any person in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in recent months following the demise of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park thought particulars of the incident were disclosed to the news outlets and she was fired soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and staff members in despair. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “significant staff”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

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

In the autumn, Canada’s government official rejected a proposal to export the whales to China.

“Allowing the application would have meant a ongoing life in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that belugas belong in the ocean, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience approve an relocation that would continue the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reflect a more general incorrect perception of the facts of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A suggested sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which now received regulatory clearance, has shown to be contentious. The planned site, which includes extensive space of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a long term resolution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the idea of a refuge represents a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable solution in the short term.

The project lead, head of the sanctuary project, said the location will mimic the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|