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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute little “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense discussion over their fate often overlooks the nuances 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 transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled facility near Niagara Falls where they are housed warned to put them down unless the authorities funds the upkeep of their care. Canada’s marine resources official has rejected that request, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and group interactions suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something Kristy Burgess learned personally.

Burgess spent several years as a whale caretaker, a role that required earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”

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

“Eve selected me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Both transformed the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales progressed against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility attributes to natural mortality, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the visitors over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly results of the shutdown. “Structural materials is breaking off from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not reply to a request for comment, but in the past claimed: “The whales … obtain far better medical attention and around the clock attention than any individual in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was terminated from the park in early March following the passing of Eos, an sick beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought particulars of the incident were shared to the media and she was fired not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left her and current and former trainers in distress. She says the facility’s warning to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any attempts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “significant staff”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

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

In late September, Canada’s fisheries minister turned down a proposal to export the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the proposal would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a reversion to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals should be in the ocean, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience approve an export that would prolong the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reflect a broader incorrect perception of the realities of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have spent their whole lives in enclosed habitats and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as easy as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a solution, ideas have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of food for local populations.

A planned refuge in the region of eastern Canada, which now received government approval, has shown to be contentious. The prospective site, which includes extensive space of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a sustainable answer for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the idea of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the near future.

An official, director of the plan, said the location will replicate the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|