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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but guardian-like friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a shuttered park, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense debate over their fate often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the federal government blocked the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are held warned to put them down unless the authorities covers the upkeep of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and social skills indicate they are deeply intelligent creatures – something one caretaker learned first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a whale caretaker, a job that entailed gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those relationships over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so astounded by the details and quirks in their characters. She formed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing temperaments.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “They transformed the way I view connection.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s interaction with the whales progressed against a context of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say indicates the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly results of the cessation. “Structural materials is breaking off from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they take pieces and navigate with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a request for comment, but previously stated: “The whales … receive far better veterinary services and 24/7 care than any individual in the UK, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was fired from the park in recent months following the demise of Eos, an sick beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park thought particulars of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was let go not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the park’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any plans to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “considerable staff”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

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

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

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a continued situation in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals are meant for the ocean, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s statements reflect a broader incorrect perception of the realities of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a answer, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A suggested sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received regulatory clearance, has proven contentious. The future location, which includes 100 acres of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Supporters remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a permanent answer for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the possibility of a refuge represents a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the initiative, said the location will simulate the cognitive activities and diet the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|