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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming small “playful character”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a big but fiercely protective companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a struggle between a defunct facility, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their destiny often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the federal government blocked the export of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are held stated it would consider to put them down unless the federal government funds the expense of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has refused that request, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and communal behavior indicate they are deeply intelligent mammals – something a former trainer discovered personally.

She spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a role that involved earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless surprised by the details and quirks in their personalities. She cultivated a particular love for a pair of whales with different temperaments.

“One whale chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “They transformed the way I view relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

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

The park did not operate to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand effects of the shutdown. “Structural materials is falling apart from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and swim around with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not comment to a inquiry, but earlier stated: “The whales … get far superior medical attention and constant attention than any human in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in early March following the passing of Eos, an ailing beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the park thought details of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was released not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the facility’s warning to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a individual beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be transferred immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official rejected a proposal to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the application would have meant a ongoing situation in confinement and a return to display for amusement,” the official wrote. “As the public, we know that whales should be in the ocean, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience permit an export that would prolong the situation these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the minister’s remarks indicate a broader misunderstanding of the realities of existence for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a resolution, ideas have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A planned sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The planned facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a permanent answer for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the prospect of a sanctuary reflects a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a workable solution in the coming months.

An official, director of the plan, said the location will simulate the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|