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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a defunct facility, public officials and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated debate over their future often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in confinement, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the national authorities disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are held threatened to euthanize them unless the government covers the upkeep of keeping them alive. The nation’s marine resources official has rejected that demand, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and communal behavior suggest they are remarkably smart creatures – something Kristy Burgess learned directly.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that involved gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for two female belugas with different temperaments.

“One whale selected me. The other required effort,” she said. “Each transformed the way I perceive connection.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

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

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a toll which the park links to natural mortality, but which advocates say points to the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The park did not admit visitors to the visitors over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the cessation. “Structural materials is falling apart from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they take pieces and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not comment to a request for comment, but earlier stated: “The whales … get far superior health care and constant attention than any person in the Britain, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the park in early March following the demise of Eos, an sick beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility suspected details of the death were disclosed to the news outlets and she was let go not long after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the park’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” task, adding any attempts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

Burgess advocates for calls for the whales to be taken immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

In recent months, Canada’s fisheries minister denied a bid to export the whales to China.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a continued existence in enclosure and a return to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that belugas are meant for the wild, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reflect a more general lack of awareness of the realities of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers attempt to find a answer, proposals have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of food for local populations.

A proposed protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received government approval, has shown to be contentious. The future site, which includes extensive space of protected cove, is not yet built. Supporters remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a long term resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “only an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the idea of a sanctuary indicates a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible approach in the near future.

An official, director of the initiative, said the location will mimic the mental engagement and diet the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a much larger space. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|