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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “playful character”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a tussle between a shuttered park, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their future often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the people who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities disallowed the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling facility near Niagara Falls where they are housed warned to end their lives unless the government covers the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that demand, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and communal behavior indicate they are remarkably smart mammals – something Kristy Burgess discovered directly.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a position that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She cultivated a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing personalities.

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

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s interaction with the whales developed against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility links to age-related causes, but which activists say indicates the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a request for comment, but previously asserted: “The whales … receive far superior veterinary services and around the clock supervision than any person in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was fired from the facility in early March following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the park suspected information of the incident were shared to the news outlets and she was fired soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left Burgess and staff members in despair. She says the facility’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any plans to put down even a individual beluga would require “significant manpower”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

She advocates for calls for the whales to be transferred immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In recent months, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to transfer the whales to China.

“To approve the request would have meant a continued life in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official wrote. “As society, we know that whales should be in the ocean, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience permit an relocation that would prolong the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s remarks reveal a broader misunderstanding of the circumstances of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a answer, ideas have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A suggested sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received government approval, has been highly debated. The future site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain positive that it could ultimately represent a permanent solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the possibility of a protected habitat reflects a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the coming months.

The project lead, head of the initiative, said the facility will mimic the mental engagement and nutrition the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|