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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable small “playful character”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a disagreement between a closed attraction, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the intense controversy over their fate often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been carefully observed by the people who see them each day.

After the Canadian government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are held warned to end their lives unless the government funds the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable situation.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and social skills indicate they are deeply intelligent mammals – something one caretaker discovered personally.

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

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the details and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She developed a special affection for a pair of whales with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Each changed the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, died. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which activists say indicates the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The facility did not operate to the public over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Structural materials is falling apart from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not respond to a inquiry, but previously asserted: “The whales … obtain far better health care and 24/7 care than any person in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the park in the spring following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the facility suspected particulars of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was fired not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and current and former trainers in despair. She says the park’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any efforts to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable manpower”, trucks and heavy equipment.

“It cannot happen in hell the caretakers would ever do it,” she said.

She advocates for demands for the whales to be removed right away from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s government official rejected a proposal to export the whales to China.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a ongoing existence in confinement and a return to display for amusement,” the official wrote. “As the public, we know that marine mammals should be in the ocean, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing permit an transfer that would continue the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks indicate a broader incorrect perception of the realities of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities attempt to find a answer, suggestions have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of food for local populations.

A planned refuge in the region of eastern Canada, which recently received government approval, has been most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes a large area of protected cove, is not yet built. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a long term resolution for a number of the whales.

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

Others say the possibility of a sanctuary represents a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable plan in the near future.

An official, director of the initiative, said the site will simulate the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|