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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a tussle between a defunct facility, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their destiny often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government prevented the export of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are kept warned to end their lives unless the federal government funds the cost of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that demand, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart animals – something Kristy Burgess discovered first-hand.

She spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a position that involved building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She cultivated a particular love for a pair of whales with contrasting personalities.

“One whale accepted me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Each transformed the way I view bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales developed against a background of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her three years at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a number which the park ascribes to natural mortality, but which activists say indicates the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The park did not open to the visitors over the recent season, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes effects of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far superior veterinary services and around the clock care than any human in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in early March following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the park suspected details of the incident were shared to the press and she was released shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any attempts to put down even a one beluga would require “immense manpower”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess backs calls for the whales to be taken right away from the park, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

In recent months, the nation’s fisheries minister denied a bid to send the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a ongoing situation in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that marine mammals are meant for the ocean, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience permit an transfer that would continue the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments indicate a wider misunderstanding of the realities of life for belugas born in captivity.

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

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a solution, ideas have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed sanctuary in the region of eastern Canada, which now received regulatory clearance, has proven most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes extensive space of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a sustainable resolution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the possibility of a sanctuary reflects a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a viable plan in the near future.

An official, head of the initiative, said the facility will simulate the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|