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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but guardian-like companion. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a disagreement between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the impassioned discussion over their fate often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the Canadian government disallowed the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled facility near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to put them down unless the authorities funds the cost of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable situation.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, problem solving and social skills indicate they are deeply intelligent mammals – something one caretaker learned personally.

She spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that involved gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so amazed by the subtleties and unique traits in their characters. She cultivated a particular love for two female belugas with different natures.

“One whale chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Each transformed the way I understand bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales progressed against a context of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park ascribes to natural mortality, but which activists say points to the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The facility did not open to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes effects of the cessation. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a request for comment, but earlier asserted: “The whales … receive far higher quality medical attention and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the park in the spring following the demise of a beluga, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the facility believed particulars of the death were disclosed to the media and she was released soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left Burgess and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any attempts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “immense personnel”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

Burgess advocates for demands for the whales to be transferred right away from the park, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

In the autumn, Canada’s government official rejected a bid to export the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a ongoing existence in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As society, we know that belugas are meant for the ocean, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience permit an export that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have experienced.”

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

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials attempt to find a solution, proposals have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed refuge in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received government approval, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective location, which includes 100 acres of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a long term resolution for eight of the whales.

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

Others say the prospect of a protected habitat reflects a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, head of the initiative, said the facility will replicate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales get from trainers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|