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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an cute little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a big but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a disagreement between a closed attraction, government authorities and animal rights activists.

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 living their entire lives in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to China, the struggling facility near the famous falls where they are housed warned to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the upkeep of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills point to they are highly cognitive creatures – something one caretaker discovered directly.

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

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

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She developed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting personalities.

“Eve chose me. The other required effort,” she said. “They changed the way I view bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales developed against a background of growing public opposition to their confinement.

During her tenure at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which activists say indicates the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The facility did not open to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the cessation. “Structural materials is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and swim around with pieces in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not comment to a request for comment, but in the past claimed: “The whales … get far higher quality veterinary services and constant supervision than any human in the Britain, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in recent months following the death of a beluga, an unwell beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the park thought information of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was fired not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, equipment and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess advocates for calls for the whales to be removed immediately from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s fisheries minister turned down a request to export the whales to China.

“Granting the request would have meant a perpetual existence in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the minister commented. “As the public, we know that belugas belong in the ocean, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience permit an transfer that would prolong the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments reveal a broader incorrect perception of the realities of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As authorities attempt to find a resolution, suggestions have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A suggested refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which has received regulatory clearance, has proven highly debated. The future location, which includes a large area of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain positive that it could in time represent a permanent solution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an untested concept” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the possibility of a sanctuary reflects a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a workable solution in the near future.

Charles Vinick, head of the initiative, said the location will replicate the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|