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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable small “playful character”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

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

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned debate over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been carefully observed by the people who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near the famous falls where they are kept warned to end their lives unless the federal government covers the upkeep of their survival. Canada’s marine resources official has rejected that demand, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that beluga whales’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and communal behavior point to they are highly cognitive creatures – something one caretaker observed personally.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a position that required earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the nuances and quirks in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing personalities.

“Eve accepted me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Each changed the way I view bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Her relationship with the whales evolved against a context of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her tenure at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, died. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the park links to age-related causes, but which activists say reflects the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly effects of the closure. “Concrete is falling apart from the tanks because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not respond to a questionnaire, but earlier claimed: “The whales … receive far superior medical attention and 24/7 care than any human in the Britain, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in recent months following the death of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the park believed particulars of the incident were shared to the media and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and other caretakers in anguish. She says the facility’s threat to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any efforts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “immense personnel”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for calls for the whales to be transferred immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

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

“Allowing the application would have meant a perpetual situation in enclosure and a return to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As society, we know that marine mammals belong in the ocean, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience permit an relocation that would prolong the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements reflect a more general incorrect perception of the circumstances of existence for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials attempt to find a solution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of food for local populations.

A proposed refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which has received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The future site, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain positive that it could eventually represent a permanent resolution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an trial” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a sanctuary represents a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a feasible solution in the coming months.

The project lead, head of the initiative, said the location will mimic the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|