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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a defunct facility, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their destiny often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been carefully observed by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government blocked the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling amusement park near the famous falls where they are held threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has refused that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, intellectual tasks and group interactions suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something Kristy Burgess discovered first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so surprised by the details and unique traits in their dispositions. She cultivated a special affection for a pair of whales with contrasting natures.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive connection.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales evolved against a background of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her three years at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility attributes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say indicates the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The facility did not admit visitors to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not comment to a questionnaire, but previously claimed: “The whales … get far better veterinary services and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in early March following the demise of Eos, an sick beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility suspected details of the incident were disclosed to the news outlets and she was fired soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s threat to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, equipment and machinery.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s government official rejected a bid to export the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the proposal would have meant a ongoing existence in confinement and a return to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that marine mammals are meant for the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an export that would prolong the situation these belugas have experienced.”

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

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers work to find a resolution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of sustenance for local populations.

A suggested refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received regulatory clearance, has proven highly debated. The planned location, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a permanent solution for some of the whales.

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

Others say the prospect of a sanctuary indicates a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, director of the plan, said the site will mimic the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|