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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based amusement park have been entangled in a disagreement between a closed attraction, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense debate over their future often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been closely studied by the humans who see them each day.

After the federal government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to put them down unless the federal government covers the upkeep of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that request, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and communal behavior point to they are deeply intelligent mammals – something one caretaker learned directly.

She spent several years as a whale caretaker, a role 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 trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the subtleties and unique traits in their characters. She developed a deep bond for a pair of whales with different personalities.

“One whale selected me. The other demanded work,” she said. “They altered the way I view relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her three years at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park attributes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say points to the substandard environment in which they were kept.

The facility did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes effects of the cessation. “Concrete is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they take pieces and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but earlier stated: “The whales … obtain far higher quality health care and constant care than any person in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

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

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the facility’s threat to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any efforts to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

In late September, Canada’s fisheries minister turned down a proposal to send the whales to China.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a perpetual existence in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As society, we know that whales are meant for the ocean, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing authorize an relocation that would prolong the treatment these belugas have endured.”

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

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers work to find a resolution, ideas have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for local populations.

A suggested sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The future facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a sustainable resolution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an untested concept” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the possibility of a refuge reflects a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, leader of the plan, said the site will replicate the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|