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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a disagreement between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense controversy over their future often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are kept stated it would consider to put them down unless the authorities covers the cost of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and social skills indicate they are remarkably smart animals – something one caretaker learned directly.

Burgess spent three years as a whale caretaker, a job that involved gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so amazed by the nuances and unique traits in their dispositions. She formed a deep bond for a pair of whales with contrasting personalities.

“One whale chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Each changed the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales evolved against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say points to the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the shutdown. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not comment to a inquiry, but earlier claimed: “The whales … obtain far better veterinary services and around the clock attention than any individual in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in recent months following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the facility believed information of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and current and former trainers in distress. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any attempts to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

“It cannot happen in hell the caretakers would ever do it,” she said.

She advocates for demands for the whales to be removed promptly from the park, with its crumbling tanks and reduced personnel.

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

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a perpetual life in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that belugas belong in the ocean, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing permit an export that would continue the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements indicate a wider lack of awareness of the realities of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials work to find a resolution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for local populations.

A suggested sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has proven most controversial. The planned location, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Proponents remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a long term solution 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’ future.

Different voices say the idea of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable approach in the near future.

An official, leader of the initiative, said the location will replicate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|