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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming little “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a big but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a disagreement between a defunct facility, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense controversy over their destiny often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the people who see them each day.

After the Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are kept stated it would consider to put them down unless the government funds the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s marine resources official has refused that request, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and social skills point to they are remarkably smart animals – something one caretaker discovered first-hand.

She spent three years as a beluga trainer, a job that entailed building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She developed a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing natures.

“One whale selected me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Each changed the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her three years at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility links to natural mortality, but which advocates say points to the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes results of the cessation. “Structural materials is falling apart from the pools because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with fragments in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … receive far better veterinary services and around the clock attention than any human in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in the spring following the demise of a beluga, an unwell beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park suspected information of the incident were disclosed to the news outlets and she was let go not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ fate has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any attempts to put down even a one beluga would require “significant staff”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

Burgess advocates for requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the park, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In recent months, Canada’s fisheries minister turned down a proposal to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the request would have meant a ongoing situation in enclosure and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official commented. “As society, we know that belugas should be in the ocean, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing approve an export that would continue the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reflect a wider 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 human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a resolution, proposals have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A planned sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received regulatory clearance, has been most controversial. The future location, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Advocates remain optimistic that it could in time represent a long term resolution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a viable approach in the coming months.

An official, leader of the plan, said the site will mimic the mental engagement and nutrition the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|