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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an cute small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

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

But those closest to the whales say the impassioned controversy over their destiny often ignores the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are held threatened to end their lives unless the authorities funds the expense of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and group interactions suggest they are highly cognitive mammals – something a former trainer discovered personally.

Burgess spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a job that involved earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She formed a special affection for two female belugas with opposing temperaments.

“One whale chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “They transformed the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales evolved against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their confinement.

During her time at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to natural mortality, but which advocates say points to the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes results of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not comment to a request for comment, but in the past asserted: “The whales … get far better medical attention and 24/7 attention than any individual in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was fired from the facility in the spring following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the park believed particulars of the death were shared to the news outlets and she was released soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left her and current and former trainers in despair. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “significant staff”, equipment and machinery.

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

Burgess advocates for demands for the whales to be taken immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In recent months, Canada’s government official denied a proposal to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the request would have meant a continued situation in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As the public, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience approve an transfer that would continue the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reveal a broader incorrect perception of the circumstances of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities work to find a solution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of food for Inuit communities.

A suggested sanctuary in the region of eastern Canada, which has received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned facility, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain positive that it could in time represent a sustainable answer for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “only an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the idea of a refuge indicates a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable solution in the near future.

The project lead, leader of the plan, said the location will simulate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales get from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|