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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming little “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a shuttered park, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated debate over their destiny often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government blocked the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government funds the expense of their survival. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and social skills indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something a former trainer discovered directly.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the subtleties and unique traits in their characters. She formed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with different temperaments.

“Eve selected me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They altered the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s connection with the whales developed against a context of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a toll which the park attributes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say points to the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes results of the shutdown. “Structural materials is breaking off from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and move about with chunks in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not respond to a questionnaire, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far higher quality medical attention and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the park in recent months following the passing of Eos, an sick beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the facility believed information of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s warning to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a one beluga would require “immense manpower”, trucks and machinery.

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

She backs demands for the whales to be taken immediately from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In recent months, Canada’s government official turned down a request to export the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the application would have meant a continued life in enclosure and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the minister stated. “As society, we know that belugas belong in the wild, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing approve an export that would prolong the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reflect a more general lack of awareness of the realities of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials attempt to find a solution, proposals have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A proposed refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received government approval, has shown to be highly debated. The planned facility, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain positive that it could ultimately represent a permanent solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the possibility of a refuge reflects a changing attitudes away from captive facilities and could represent a viable solution in the short term.

An official, head of the sanctuary project, said the facility will mimic the mental engagement and diet the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|