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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a defunct facility, public officials and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the intense debate over their fate often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government prevented the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are kept threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the expense of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has refused that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and social skills point to they are deeply intelligent mammals – something a former trainer learned directly.

She spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that entailed earning the trust of the aquatic animals.

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the details and unique traits in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for two female belugas with opposing personalities.

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

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

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

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a number which the facility links to natural mortality, but which advocates say indicates the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The park did not admit visitors to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they pick it up and swim around with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not respond to a inquiry, but in the past stated: “The whales … obtain far superior veterinary services and around the clock care than any person in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in recent months following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the park thought information of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was fired soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and other caretakers in anguish. She says the park’s threat to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any plans to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “considerable staff”, trucks and specialized tools.

“There’s no way in hell the employees would ever do it,” she said.

Burgess advocates for requests for the whales to be removed immediately from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

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

“Allowing the request would have meant a perpetual situation in confinement and a return to performance for audiences,” the minister wrote. “As the public, we know that belugas are meant for the sea, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience authorize an relocation that would continue the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s statements indicate a more general lack of awareness of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers attempt to find a resolution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of food for local populations.

A planned refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has shown to be contentious. The future facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, is not yet built. Proponents remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a sustainable answer for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an untested concept” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a sanctuary represents a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a feasible approach in the short term.

Charles Vinick, leader of the initiative, said the site will mimic the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|