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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an cute little “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a closed attraction, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated debate over their future often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the federal government prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the embattled amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are held threatened to put them down unless the authorities pays for the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and group interactions indicate they are highly cognitive mammals – something Kristy Burgess discovered directly.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a position that involved building relationships of the sea creatures.

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

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She developed a special affection for a pair of whales with different natures.

“Eve chose me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Each changed the way I perceive bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s connection with the whales evolved against a background of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her tenure at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which advocates say indicates the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The facility did not operate to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a inquiry, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far superior veterinary services and around the clock attention than any person in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in the spring following the demise of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the park thought information of the death were disclosed to the media and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and other caretakers in despair. She says the facility’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “significant staff”, vehicles and machinery.

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

Burgess advocates for demands for the whales to be transferred right away from the facility, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

In the autumn, the nation’s fisheries minister denied a proposal to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the application would have meant a continued existence in captivity and a return to performance for audiences,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the wild, not in tanks for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience approve an export that would prolong the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks indicate a more general misunderstanding of the realities of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a resolution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of sustenance for local populations.

A suggested protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which has received regulatory clearance, has proven highly debated. The prospective facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, is not yet built. Advocates remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a permanent solution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an trial” in the whales’ fate.

Different voices say the prospect of a protected habitat reflects a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a feasible plan in the coming months.

An official, director of the plan, said the site will mimic the mental engagement and nutrition the whales get from specialists, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|