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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an cute little “playful character”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a closed attraction, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated debate over their future often ignores the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities disallowed the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling facility near the famous falls where they are held warned to euthanize them unless the authorities pays for the upkeep of keeping them alive. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart animals – something one caretaker learned first-hand.

She spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a job that involved earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She developed a particular love for two female belugas with different temperaments.

“One whale chose me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Both altered the way I understand bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales progressed against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the park links to natural mortality, but which advocates say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not operate to the visitors over the recent season, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes consequences of the shutdown. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far higher quality veterinary services and around the clock attention than any individual in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in early March following the demise of a beluga, an unwell beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought details of the incident were shared to the press and she was released shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and staff members in despair. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any plans to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “considerable manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

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

“Granting the proposal would have meant a ongoing situation in confinement and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the ocean, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reflect a wider misunderstanding of the realities of living conditions for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to realize these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of food for local populations.

A suggested protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has shown to be most controversial. The planned facility, which includes extensive space of protected cove, is not yet built. Advocates remain positive that it could eventually represent a long term answer for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the possibility of a refuge indicates a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a viable solution in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, director of the plan, said the facility will replicate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|