‘It’s deeply saddening’: the way thirty captive white whales are now pawns in conflict over animal welfare.

Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but fiercely protective companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a struggle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated debate over their future often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are kept warned to end their lives unless the federal government covers the cost of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and group interactions suggest they are highly cognitive mammals – something Kristy Burgess discovered directly.

She spent three years as a beluga trainer, a job that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the details and unique traits in their characters. She developed a deep bond for a pair of whales with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale selected me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “They altered the way I view relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s interaction with the whales developed against a background of rising activist criticism to their confinement.

During her time at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a number which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say points to the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the shutdown. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with chunks in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not reply to a request for comment, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far better medical attention and constant supervision than any person in the Britain, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the facility in recent months following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park believed particulars of the death were shared to the media and she was fired soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the park’s warning to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be removed immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official denied a request to transfer the whales to China.

“Allowing the request would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a return to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As society, we know that belugas should be in the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience permit an transfer that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s remarks indicate a more general misunderstanding of the circumstances of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities work to find a resolution, ideas have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A proposed refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned site, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a permanent solution for some 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 untested concept” in the whales’ future.

Others say the possibility of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a workable solution in the coming months.

An official, head of the sanctuary project, said the site will simulate the cognitive activities and diet the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|