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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an cute little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a large but very loyal companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a tussle between a defunct facility, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense discussion over their future often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who see them each day.

After the national authorities blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the embattled facility near the famous falls where they are kept threatened to end their lives unless the government covers the expense of their survival. Canada’s marine resources official has refused that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, problem solving and group interactions point to they are deeply intelligent mammals – something a former trainer learned personally.

Burgess spent three years as a beluga trainer, a role that required earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so astounded by the subtleties and quirks in their characters. She developed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with different personalities.

“One whale chose me. The other required effort,” she said. “They transformed the way I perceive bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the park ascribes to age-related causes, but which advocates say points to the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes results of the cessation. “Structural materials is falling apart from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a inquiry, but in the past claimed: “The whales … obtain far higher quality health care and 24/7 supervision than any individual in the UK, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the passing of Eos, an sick beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility believed particulars of the death were shared to the press and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s threat to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any efforts to put down even a single beluga would require “immense personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

“It’s impossible 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 crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

In late September, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the application would have meant a ongoing existence in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the minister commented. “As Canadians, we know that belugas are meant for the sea, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing permit an export that would prolong the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the official’s statements reflect a broader incorrect perception of the realities of life for belugas raised in confinement.

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

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As officials work to find a solution, suggestions have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a key source of nourishment for local populations.

A planned sanctuary in the region of eastern Canada, which now received regulatory clearance, has proven most controversial. The prospective location, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Proponents remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a sustainable resolution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the possibility of a protected habitat represents a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable solution in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the sanctuary project, said the facility will replicate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales get from specialists, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|