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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming little “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but guardian-like friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a shuttered park, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense debate over their destiny often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the federal government blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the embattled facility near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to end their lives unless the government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, intellectual tasks and communal behavior suggest they are highly cognitive creatures – something one caretaker learned personally.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that involved earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those relationships over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the subtleties and quirks in their personalities. She cultivated a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing personalities.

“Eve selected me. The other required effort,” she said. “They transformed the way I perceive connection.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales progressed against a context of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility links to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say points to the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not comment to a questionnaire, but previously asserted: “The whales … obtain far higher quality health care and constant supervision than any person in the UK, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park thought information of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was let go not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the facility’s warning to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a individual beluga would require “immense personnel”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs demands for the whales to be taken immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In late September, the nation’s fisheries minister rejected a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the proposal would have meant a ongoing situation in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals belong in the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience permit an relocation that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments indicate a broader misunderstanding of the facts of life for belugas born in captivity.

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

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A planned protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The future location, which includes a large area of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain positive that it could eventually represent a long term answer for eight of the whales.

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

Some experts say the possibility of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will mimic the cognitive activities and diet the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|