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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a closed attraction, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed warned to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the expense of their care. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something one caretaker discovered directly.

She spent a significant period as a beluga trainer, a job that required gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the start, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She developed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting temperaments.

“One whale chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “They transformed the way I perceive connection.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

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

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the facility links to age-related causes, but which advocates say points to the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The park did not open to the public over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the shutdown. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they take pieces and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not respond to a inquiry, but earlier asserted: “The whales … get far higher quality veterinary services and 24/7 attention than any individual in the UK, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in recent months following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the park suspected details of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was fired soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any efforts to put down even a individual beluga would require “significant manpower”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess advocates for demands for the whales to be removed immediately from the park, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

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

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a ongoing situation in enclosure and a return to performance for audiences,” the minister wrote. “As the public, we know that belugas should be in the sea, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience permit an relocation that would continue the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements reflect a more general misunderstanding of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a resolution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for local populations.

A suggested sanctuary in the region of eastern Canada, which now received official endorsement, has shown to be highly debated. The future facility, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Advocates remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a long term resolution for a number 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’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a refuge represents a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a feasible plan in the near future.

An official, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will simulate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|