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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable small “sweetheart”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a struggle between a defunct facility, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense debate over their fate often ignores the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the people who interact with them daily.

After the federal government blocked the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are housed warned to euthanize them unless the government pays for the upkeep of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart mammals – something Kristy Burgess learned directly.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a position that involved gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and unique traits in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing natures.

“Eve selected me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Both transformed the way I view relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales developed against a background of rising activist criticism to their confinement.

During her three years at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, died. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park attributes to natural mortality, but which campaigners say points to the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes effects of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and swim around with pieces in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but in the past claimed: “The whales … obtain far superior veterinary services and constant attention than any human in the Britain, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the park in early March following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the facility suspected particulars of the death were leaked to the press and she was released shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the facility’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

“It cannot happen in hell the staff would ever do it,” she said.

Burgess advocates for calls for the whales to be taken promptly from the park, with its failing enclosures and reduced personnel.

In recent months, the nation’s government official rejected a request to send the whales to China.

“To approve the proposal would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a return to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As the public, we know that belugas are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an export that would continue the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks reveal a wider lack of awareness of the realities of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to understand 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 comprehend that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As authorities struggle to find a answer, suggestions have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a key source of food for Inuit communities.

A suggested sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The future site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain optimistic that it could eventually represent a long term solution for some of the whales.

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

Others say the possibility of a sanctuary reflects a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a workable solution in the short term.

The project lead, director of the plan, said the site will replicate the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|