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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an adorable little “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their fate often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the federal government disallowed the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed warned to put them down unless the authorities funds the expense of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and group interactions suggest they are deeply intelligent creatures – something one caretaker discovered directly.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that entailed earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was even so astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She formed a special affection for two female belugas with opposing personalities.

“One whale selected me. The other required effort,” she said. “They transformed the way I view connection.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

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

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility links to natural mortality, but which campaigners say points to the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The park did not open to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they take pieces and swim around with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a request for comment, but previously claimed: “The whales … receive far higher quality veterinary services and constant attention than any human in the Britain, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the facility in recent months following the death of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the facility thought particulars of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was fired not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and other caretakers in anguish. She says the park’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any plans to humanely kill even a individual beluga would require “considerable personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the park, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

In late September, Canada’s government official rejected a request to export the whales to China.

“Granting the proposal would have meant a perpetual situation in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that belugas are meant for the sea, not in tanks for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience permit an relocation that would prolong the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reflect a more general lack of awareness of the facts of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials struggle to find a solution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of food for local populations.

A suggested sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which now received official endorsement, has proven highly debated. The planned facility, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Proponents remain positive that it could in time represent a permanent resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the prospect of a sanctuary indicates a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a viable approach in the short term.

The project lead, head of the plan, said the location will replicate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|