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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a tussle between a defunct facility, public officials and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the heated debate over their destiny often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been closely studied by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government blocked the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are kept warned to end their lives unless the authorities funds the upkeep of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that request, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and communal behavior indicate they are highly cognitive animals – something a former trainer observed directly.

She spent several years as a beluga trainer, a position that required building relationships of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the outset, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was even so surprised by the details and quirks in their dispositions. She developed a deep bond for two female belugas with opposing temperaments.

“Eve selected me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales evolved against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her three years at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, passed away. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a number which the park attributes to age-related causes, but which campaigners say reflects the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly results of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and move about with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but earlier stated: “The whales … obtain far better veterinary services and 24/7 attention than any individual in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the facility in early March following the passing of a beluga, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought information of the death were disclosed to the press and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and current and former trainers in despair. She says the park’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any efforts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “immense manpower”, vehicles and machinery.

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

Burgess supports requests for the whales to be removed immediately from the park, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In recent months, Canada’s government official rejected a proposal to export the whales to China.

“To approve the request would have meant a perpetual situation in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official stated. “As the public, we know that belugas are meant for the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an relocation that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reveal a broader incorrect perception of the facts of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a resolution, suggestions have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. An idea called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A planned refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The planned site, which includes a large area of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain positive that it could eventually represent a long term answer 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 “simply an trial” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the possibility of a sanctuary represents a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a workable approach in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will simulate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales get from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|