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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been entangled in a tussle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their future often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the federal government disallowed the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near the famous falls where they are kept warned to put them down unless the government funds the cost of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and social skills indicate they are remarkably smart animals – something a former trainer observed first-hand.

Burgess spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a role that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. 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 amazed by the subtleties and quirks in their personalities. She developed a special affection for a pair of whales with opposing natures.

“One whale accepted me. The other required effort,” she said. “They transformed the way I understand relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales progressed against a context of rising activist criticism to their confinement.

During her tenure at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, died. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the park attributes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The facility did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she observed directly effects of the closure. “Concrete is falling apart from the tanks because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not comment to a questionnaire, but earlier stated: “The whales … get far higher quality veterinary services and constant supervision than any human in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in early March following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility believed information of the incident were disclosed to the news outlets and she was let go not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left her and current and former trainers in distress. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any attempts to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “immense staff”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

She supports demands for the whales to be removed immediately from the facility, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

In recent months, the nation’s government official turned down a request to transfer the whales to China.

“To approve the proposal would have meant a ongoing existence in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official stated. “As society, we know that belugas are meant for the wild, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience permit an relocation that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reflect a more general incorrect perception of the circumstances of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a solution, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a key source of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A planned protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has been highly debated. The planned location, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a sustainable resolution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the idea of a protected habitat indicates a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the coming months.

The project lead, head of the sanctuary project, said the site will mimic the cognitive activities and diet the whales get from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|