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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a big but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park 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 discussion over their destiny often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been carefully observed by the people who see them each day.

After the Canadian government disallowed the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling facility near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to put them down unless the government funds the upkeep of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has refused that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, problem solving and communal behavior suggest they are deeply intelligent animals – something one caretaker observed first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a beluga trainer, a role that required gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“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 mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the subtleties and unique traits in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for a pair of whales with different natures.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They altered the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say indicates the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the guests over the recent season, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes effects of the cessation. “Structural materials is breaking off from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and swim around with pieces in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a inquiry, but earlier claimed: “The whales … obtain far better medical attention and around the clock care than any individual in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in early March following the demise of Eos, an sick beluga the employees had to put down. She said the facility thought details of the incident were shared to the press and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “significant manpower”, equipment and heavy equipment.

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

She backs calls for the whales to be removed promptly from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official turned down a request to send the whales to China.

“Allowing the request would have meant a perpetual situation in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the sea, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience permit an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the official’s statements reveal a wider misunderstanding of the realities of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities attempt to find a answer, suggestions have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of food for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which has received government approval, has proven most controversial. The future location, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Supporters remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a long term solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the possibility of a refuge represents a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a workable plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, leader of the sanctuary project, said the site will mimic the mental engagement and diet the whales receive from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|