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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but fiercely protective companion. Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based amusement park have been entangled in a tussle between a closed attraction, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense controversy over their destiny often fails to consider the individual traits 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 a foreign facility, the embattled attraction near the famous falls where they are kept warned to euthanize them unless the government pays for the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has rejected that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and social skills point to they are deeply intelligent mammals – something one caretaker observed first-hand.

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

“Developing those relationships 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 shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the details and unique traits in their characters. She formed a particular love for two female belugas with opposing temperaments.

“One whale selected me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “They altered the way I perceive connection.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her time at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility attributes to age-related causes, but which advocates say reflects the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The facility did not admit visitors to the guests over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly results of the shutdown. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and move about with pieces in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not reply to a questionnaire, but in the past asserted: “The whales … receive far superior veterinary services and 24/7 care than any person in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in the spring following the death of a beluga, an sick beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park suspected particulars of the death were leaked to the media and she was fired soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any efforts to put down even a one beluga would require “immense manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

“It’s impossible in hell the staff would ever do it,” she said.

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

In the autumn, the nation’s government official denied a bid to export the whales to China.

“Granting the application would have meant a continued life in enclosure and a reversion to public entertainment,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience permit an export that would prolong the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reflect a broader lack of awareness of the circumstances of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats 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 ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As authorities attempt to find a solution, suggestions have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of food for local populations.

A planned protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has shown to be highly debated. The prospective facility, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Advocates remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a sustainable answer for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Others say the prospect of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a viable solution in the coming months.

An official, leader of the plan, said the site will simulate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|