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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a disagreement between a defunct facility, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense debate over their fate often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the people who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are kept warned to end their lives unless the government covers the upkeep of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and communal behavior point to they are deeply intelligent animals – something one caretaker learned first-hand.

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

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very cautious 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 exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the details and quirks in their characters. She cultivated a special affection for a pair of whales with opposing personalities.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales progressed against a context of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, died. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility links to age-related causes, but which campaigners say reflects the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not operate to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not respond to a questionnaire, but earlier stated: “The whales … obtain far better health care and around the clock supervision than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was fired from the park in the spring following the demise of a beluga, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park suspected details of the death were disclosed to the news outlets and she was fired not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any plans to put down even a individual beluga would require “significant personnel”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

Burgess advocates for calls for the whales to be removed promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In recent months, the nation’s fisheries minister rejected a request to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a ongoing existence in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As the public, we know that belugas belong in the sea, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience approve an relocation that would prolong the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements indicate a broader lack of awareness of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to understand 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. “People just don’t comprehend that it’s not as easy as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a answer, ideas have surfaced, 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 key source of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A suggested refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The future facility, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Advocates remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a sustainable answer 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 “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the short term.

An official, head of the initiative, said the site will simulate the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|