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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming little “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a disagreement between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the impassioned discussion over their fate often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the people who work with them regularly.

After the federal government disallowed the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling facility near the famous falls where they are housed warned to end their lives unless the government covers the cost of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Researchers say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something a former trainer discovered first-hand.

She spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that entailed gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She developed a particular love for two female belugas with different temperaments.

“Eve chose me. The other demanded work,” she said. “They altered the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her connection with the whales progressed against a background of growing public opposition to their confinement.

During her tenure at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility attributes to natural mortality, but which activists say points to the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The park did not operate to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand effects of the closure. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and navigate with pieces in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a request for comment, but previously stated: “The whales … receive far better health care and 24/7 supervision than any person in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in the spring following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought details of the death were leaked to the news outlets and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and staff members in despair. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a one beluga would require “significant manpower”, vehicles and machinery.

“There’s no way in hell the staff would ever do it,” she said.

She backs requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

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

“Allowing the application would have meant a continued existence in confinement and a reversion to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As the public, we know that belugas should be in the wild, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience approve an relocation that would prolong the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments reveal a broader lack of awareness of the realities of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a resolution, proposals have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a key source of sustenance for local populations.

A planned sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned location, which includes a large area of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a permanent solution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the prospect of a refuge reflects a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a workable plan in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, director of the plan, said the site will mimic the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|