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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable small “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a big but guardian-like companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a closed attraction, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated discussion over their fate often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities disallowed the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are kept warned to put them down unless the government pays for the cost of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and group interactions point to they are deeply intelligent creatures – something one caretaker discovered first-hand.

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

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She formed a particular love for two female belugas with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “They changed the way I understand bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales progressed against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility ascribes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say reflects the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The park did not operate to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes effects of the cessation. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a questionnaire, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far superior veterinary services and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the demise of a beluga, an sick beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the park thought information of the death were disclosed to the media and she was let go soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left her and current and former trainers in distress. She says the park’s threat to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense personnel”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be taken promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

In the autumn, Canada’s fisheries minister denied a proposal to send the whales to China.

“Allowing the application would have meant a ongoing existence in enclosure and a return to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As society, we know that whales belong in the ocean, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience permit an relocation that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements reveal a wider incorrect perception of the facts of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to understand 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 easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a answer, suggestions have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A proposed refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has shown to be highly debated. The planned location, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Advocates remain hopeful that it could in time represent a permanent solution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Different voices say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable plan in the short term.

An official, leader of the initiative, said the facility will mimic the mental engagement and diet the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|