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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a defunct facility, government authorities and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated controversy over their destiny often ignores the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been carefully observed by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities blocked the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are held warned to end their lives unless the federal government covers the upkeep of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and group interactions suggest they are deeply intelligent mammals – something a former trainer discovered personally.

She spent several years as a beluga trainer, a position that involved earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so amazed by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She cultivated a deep bond for a pair of whales with contrasting personalities.

“Eve selected me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both changed the way I understand bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales progressed against a context of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her three years at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility ascribes to expected lifespan, but which advocates say indicates the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes effects of the shutdown. “Structural materials is falling apart from the pools because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they take pieces and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but previously stated: “The whales … get far higher quality medical attention and 24/7 care than any person in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in early March following the demise of Eos, an sick beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility suspected information of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was let go not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the park’s threat to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any plans to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for calls for the whales to be transferred immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to export the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the request would have meant a continued life in confinement and a return to display for amusement,” the minister commented. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals should be in the wild, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience approve an relocation that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments reveal a more general incorrect perception of the circumstances of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

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

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a solution, suggestions have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has been highly debated. The prospective facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain positive that it could ultimately represent a long term resolution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “merely an untested concept” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the idea of a protected habitat indicates a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable plan in the near future.

The project lead, head of the initiative, said the location will simulate the mental engagement and diet the whales receive from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|