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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable small “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a shuttered park, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense debate over their future often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the federal government prevented the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed warned to euthanize them unless the authorities covers the cost of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, problem solving and group interactions point to they are highly cognitive animals – something one caretaker learned first-hand.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that required gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. 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.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She cultivated a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing temperaments.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales progressed against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which advocates say indicates the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and move about with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a inquiry, but previously stated: “The whales … receive far higher quality medical attention and constant supervision than any human in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in recent months following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought particulars of the death were disclosed to the press and she was fired soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess supports demands for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

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

“Granting the request would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As the public, we know that whales belong in the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an transfer that would prolong the situation these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements indicate a more general misunderstanding of the circumstances of life 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 ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As authorities work to find a answer, ideas have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A suggested refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which has received official endorsement, has proven highly debated. The planned location, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Supporters remain optimistic that it could in time represent a sustainable solution for eight of the whales.

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

Others say the possibility of a refuge indicates a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a workable approach in the near future.

Charles Vinick, director of the initiative, said the site will replicate the mental engagement and nutrition the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|