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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an adorable little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a struggle between a defunct facility, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the heated discussion over their fate often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the people who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government prevented the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the upkeep of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has refused that demand, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart animals – something Kristy Burgess observed personally.

Burgess spent three years as a whale caretaker, a role that required earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the nuances and unique traits in their dispositions. She developed a particular love for two female belugas with different temperaments.

“One whale chose me. The other required effort,” she said. “Each transformed the way I perceive connection.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her time at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, died. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the park links to age-related causes, but which campaigners say indicates the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The facility did not admit visitors to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly consequences of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far better veterinary services and around the clock care than any person in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was fired from the park in recent months following the death of Eos, an sick beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the facility thought information of the death were disclosed to the media and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any plans to put down even a single beluga would require “immense manpower”, trucks and machinery.

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

Burgess backs calls for the whales to be removed immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In late September, the nation’s government official turned down a proposal to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the request would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals belong in the wild, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience permit an export that would continue the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reveal a wider lack of awareness of the realities of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a resolution, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A proposed protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned location, which includes a large area of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could in time represent a long term answer for a number of the whales.

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

Some experts say the possibility of a sanctuary indicates a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a viable plan in the short term.

An official, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will mimic the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|