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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming small “sweetheart”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a tussle between a closed attraction, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the heated controversy over their fate often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the federal government prevented the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, intellectual tasks and group interactions indicate they are remarkably smart creatures – something Kristy Burgess learned personally.

Burgess spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a position that required building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She formed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing natures.

“Eve selected me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Each transformed the way I understand bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales developed against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her tenure at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park attributes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The park did not admit visitors to the guests over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand effects of the cessation. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with pieces in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not reply to a questionnaire, but in the past asserted: “The whales … get far superior medical attention and around the clock care than any human in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in early March following the demise of Eos, an unwell beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the park thought particulars of the death were leaked to the press and she was let go soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and current and former trainers in distress. She says the facility’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any attempts to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, equipment 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 taken promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, Canada’s government official denied a request to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a perpetual life in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister commented. “As the public, we know that marine mammals belong in the ocean, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing permit an transfer that would continue the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reflect a broader incorrect perception 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 ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers work to find a solution, suggestions have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A planned sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has shown to be most controversial. The planned facility, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Proponents remain positive that it could ultimately represent a sustainable solution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “merely an untested concept” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the idea of a refuge represents a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible approach in the near future.

Charles Vinick, leader of the sanctuary project, said the site will simulate the intellectual stimulation and diet the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|