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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “playful character”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a disagreement between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to put them down unless the authorities covers the cost of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that request, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills point to they are remarkably smart mammals – something Kristy Burgess learned directly.

Burgess spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a position that entailed earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the details and quirks in their dispositions. She developed a particular love for a pair of whales with contrasting natures.

“Eve accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Both transformed the way I understand bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, died. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a toll which the park links to age-related causes, but which campaigners say points to the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes results of the shutdown. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not comment to a inquiry, but earlier claimed: “The whales … receive far higher quality health care and around the clock care than any individual in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in early March following the demise of Eos, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park believed particulars of the incident were shared to the media and she was let go soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any efforts to put down even a individual beluga would require “immense personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

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

In late September, the nation’s fisheries minister rejected a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a perpetual life in enclosure and a reversion to public entertainment,” the official stated. “As the public, we know that whales are meant for the ocean, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the official’s statements reflect a broader misunderstanding of the circumstances of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities attempt to find a solution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of nourishment for local populations.

A planned sanctuary in the region of eastern Canada, which has received regulatory clearance, has proven contentious. The planned location, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain positive that it could ultimately represent a long term solution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a feasible solution in the near future.

An official, head of the initiative, said the facility will simulate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|