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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a big but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a tussle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the intense discussion over their fate often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities disallowed the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are held stated it would consider to end their lives unless the federal 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 situation.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and group interactions point to they are deeply intelligent mammals – something Kristy Burgess learned personally.

She spent three years as a beluga trainer, a role that involved building relationships of the aquatic animals.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of consistency 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 trusting with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for two female belugas with contrasting temperaments.

“Eve selected me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “They changed the way I view connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales progressed against a context of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the park attributes to age-related causes, but which advocates say points to the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

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

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but earlier claimed: “The whales … get far superior medical attention and around the clock care than any human in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in early March following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the park thought details of the death were leaked to the news outlets and she was released shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the park’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any plans to euthanize even a one beluga would require “significant manpower”, trucks and specialized tools.

“It’s impossible in hell the staff would ever do it,” she said.

She advocates for calls for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

In late September, Canada’s fisheries minister turned down a bid to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the proposal would have meant a ongoing life in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As society, we know that whales should be in the sea, not in pools for our amusement. I could not in good conscience approve an relocation that would continue the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s remarks reveal a broader lack of awareness of the realities of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as easy as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers work to find a solution, ideas have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of food for local populations.

A suggested protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which now received regulatory clearance, has shown to be contentious. The planned facility, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a long term solution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ future.

Different voices say the possibility of a refuge reflects a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible plan in the near future.

An official, leader of the initiative, said the site will replicate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a more expansive space. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|