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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming small “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a shuttered park, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their fate often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the federal government blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the upkeep of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has refused that request, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and group interactions point to they are remarkably smart creatures – something one caretaker discovered first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that required earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the details and unique traits in their dispositions. She cultivated a deep bond for two female belugas with contrasting personalities.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Both changed the way I view bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which activists say points to the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The facility did not operate to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the shutdown. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a inquiry, but in the past claimed: “The whales … get far better health care and 24/7 care than any human in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was dismissed from the park in early March following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park believed details of the death were shared to the press and she was let go soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s threat to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a one beluga would require “significant staff”, equipment and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess supports demands for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

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

“To approve the request would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a return to display for amusement,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that belugas should be in the sea, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reveal a more general incorrect perception of the facts of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As authorities struggle to find a resolution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received government approval, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective location, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a long term solution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the idea of a protected habitat indicates a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a workable plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, head of the plan, said the facility will mimic the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|