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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming small “playful character”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a shuttered park, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned debate over their destiny often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the struggling facility near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to end their lives unless the authorities funds the expense of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and communal behavior suggest they are remarkably smart mammals – something one caretaker learned directly.

She spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a job that involved gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

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

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the nuances and unique traits in their personalities. She formed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with different personalities.

“One whale selected me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both changed the way I understand relationships.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her three years at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility ascribes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say points to the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The facility did not admit visitors to the public over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a questionnaire, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far higher quality health care and 24/7 care than any human in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was fired from the facility in early March following the passing of a beluga, an sick beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility believed details of the incident were shared to the media and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense manpower”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be removed right away from the facility, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official rejected a proposal to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the request would have meant a continued existence in captivity and a return to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As society, we know that whales are meant for the sea, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience approve an transfer that would continue the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments indicate a more general incorrect perception 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 captivity and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities work to find a resolution, suggestions have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of food for local populations.

A suggested refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The prospective site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a permanent answer for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the prospect of a refuge reflects a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a viable plan in the coming months.

An official, director of the sanctuary project, said the location will simulate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|