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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming little “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a defunct facility, government authorities and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated controversy over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been closely studied by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the export of the belugas to China, the embattled attraction near Niagara Falls where they are kept threatened to put them down unless the government covers the upkeep of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has refused that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills indicate they are deeply intelligent mammals – something Kristy Burgess observed personally.

She spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a role that entailed gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so surprised by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She formed a deep bond for a pair of whales with contrasting personalities.

“Eve accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Each changed the way I understand relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales evolved against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her tenure at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which activists say points to the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not admit visitors to the visitors over the recent season, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a inquiry, but in the past asserted: “The whales … get far better medical attention and constant care than any human in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the facility in early March following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the facility suspected information of the death were disclosed to the press and she was released shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the park’s threat to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” undertaking, adding any plans to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “significant manpower”, trucks and machinery.

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

She supports calls for the whales to be removed immediately from the park, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official turned down a proposal to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Granting the application would have meant a ongoing life in enclosure and a reversion to public entertainment,” the official wrote. “As Canadians, we know that belugas should be in the sea, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience approve an transfer that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments indicate a broader lack of awareness of the facts of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities work to find a resolution, ideas have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of food for local populations.

A planned protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received regulatory clearance, has shown to be contentious. The future facility, which includes a large area of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Advocates remain positive that it could in time represent a long term solution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an untested concept” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the prospect of a refuge indicates a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a workable solution in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the initiative, said the facility will simulate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|