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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable little “playful character”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a disagreement between a closed attraction, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been carefully observed by the people who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled facility near the famous falls where they are held threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that request, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, problem solving and group interactions suggest they are remarkably smart animals – something Kristy Burgess discovered first-hand.

She spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that involved building relationships of the marine predators.

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

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was even so astounded by the nuances and quirks in their dispositions. She developed a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing natures.

“One whale chose me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Both transformed the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales evolved against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her time at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, died. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the park ascribes to expected lifespan, but which activists say indicates the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The park did not operate to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Structural materials is falling apart from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and swim around with pieces in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past stated: “The whales … receive far better medical attention and 24/7 care than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in the spring following the passing of a beluga, an ailing beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility suspected information of the death were shared to the media and she was released soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and staff members in despair. She says the park’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any attempts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “significant staff”, equipment and heavy equipment.

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

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

In the autumn, Canada’s government official denied a bid to export the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a perpetual existence in confinement and a return to public entertainment,” the official wrote. “As society, we know that whales are meant for the sea, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience authorize an transfer that would prolong the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s remarks reflect a wider lack of awareness of the facts of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials work to find a resolution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received government approval, has shown to be highly debated. The future site, which includes a large area of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a permanent solution for eight of the whales.

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

Different voices say the possibility of a protected habitat represents a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable solution in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the plan, said the facility will simulate the mental engagement and nutrition the whales get from trainers, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|