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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an charming small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a struggle between a defunct facility, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those closest to the whales say the intense debate over their destiny often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities blocked the export of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are held warned to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the cost of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and group interactions suggest they are deeply intelligent mammals – something a former trainer discovered directly.

Burgess spent three years as a whale caretaker, a role that entailed gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

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

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She developed a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing natures.

“Eve accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “They changed the way I view relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s interaction with the whales progressed against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her three years at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which advocates say reflects the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The park did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly results of the shutdown. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and move about with pieces in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not comment to a questionnaire, but in the past asserted: “The whales … receive far higher quality veterinary services and around the clock attention than any individual in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in the spring following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to put down. She said the facility believed details of the death were disclosed to the news outlets and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left her and current and former trainers in despair. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any attempts to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “considerable manpower”, equipment and heavy equipment.

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

She backs requests for the whales to be taken immediately from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In recent months, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to export the whales to China.

“Granting the proposal would have meant a ongoing existence in enclosure and a return to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales belong in the ocean, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in good conscience authorize an export that would continue the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks indicate a broader incorrect perception of the realities of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a solution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of food for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which has received regulatory clearance, has shown to be most controversial. The planned location, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Proponents remain positive that it could eventually represent a permanent resolution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the prospect of a sanctuary indicates a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a feasible solution in the coming months.

The project lead, head of the sanctuary project, said the location will mimic the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|