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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming little “ham sandwich”. 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 the beluga is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a tussle between a shuttered park, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated debate over their future often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the national authorities blocked the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are kept warned to end their lives unless the government funds the expense of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and group interactions suggest they are deeply intelligent animals – something one caretaker learned directly.

Burgess spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a position that involved earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. 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 subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She cultivated a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing personalities.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “They changed the way I perceive bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales developed against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility attributes to age-related causes, but which advocates say indicates the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not respond to a questionnaire, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far better medical attention and around the clock care than any individual in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in early March following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility believed information of the death were shared to the news outlets and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any efforts to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

She supports demands for the whales to be removed immediately from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s government official turned down a proposal to send the whales to China.

“To approve the request would have meant a continued existence in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the minister wrote. “As the public, we know that belugas should be in the wild, not in pools for our amusement. I could not in good conscience approve an export that would prolong the situation these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments reflect a wider incorrect perception of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a solution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which has received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The prospective site, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a long term resolution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a refuge indicates a changing attitudes away from captive facilities and could represent a viable approach in the coming months.

An official, leader of the plan, said the facility will mimic the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|