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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but guardian-like friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a tussle between a closed attraction, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense discussion over their destiny often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the federal government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to China, the embattled amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to put them down unless the federal government funds the cost of their care. Canada’s marine resources official has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, intellectual tasks and group interactions suggest they are remarkably smart mammals – something Kristy Burgess discovered directly.

Burgess spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the subtleties and quirks in their dispositions. She developed a special affection for two female belugas with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both altered the way I understand relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales evolved against a context of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her three years at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility ascribes to natural mortality, but which activists say points to the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not open to the public over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the shutdown. “Concrete is breaking off from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and swim around with pieces in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not reply to a questionnaire, but earlier asserted: “The whales … get far higher quality medical attention and constant care than any person in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in early March following the demise of a beluga, an unwell beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility believed information of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ outcome has left her and staff members in anguish. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any attempts to put down even a single beluga would require “immense personnel”, vehicles and machinery.

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

She backs calls for the whales to be transferred right away from the park, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s government official turned down a request to transfer the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a ongoing existence in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As the public, we know that whales should be in the wild, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in good conscience permit an transfer that would continue the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments reflect a broader incorrect perception of the realities of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in enclosed habitats and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a solution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of food for Inuit communities.

A planned refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which now received government approval, has been highly debated. The planned site, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain optimistic that it could in time represent a sustainable solution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “merely an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the possibility of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a viable plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will mimic the mental engagement and diet the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|