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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an charming small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a sizeable but guardian-like companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a defunct facility, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their destiny often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the people who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed threatened to euthanize them unless the authorities pays for the cost of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and communal behavior indicate they are deeply intelligent animals – something one caretaker learned first-hand.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a job that required earning the trust of the marine predators.

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

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was even so surprised by the nuances and quirks in their dispositions. She formed a deep bond for two female belugas with different temperaments.

“One whale accepted me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Each transformed the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her connection with the whales developed against a background of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her tenure at the attraction, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, passed away. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which activists say points to the inadequate care in which they were kept.

The park did not operate to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and move about with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not reply to a request for comment, but earlier claimed: “The whales … receive far superior veterinary services and constant supervision than any individual in the United Kingdom, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in early March following the demise of a beluga, an unwell beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the facility suspected information of the incident were leaked to the press and she was fired soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a individual beluga would require “considerable staff”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

She backs calls for the whales to be taken right away from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s fisheries minister denied a bid to transfer the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a continued life in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the minister wrote. “As the public, we know that marine mammals should be in the wild, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience authorize an relocation that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments reflect a broader incorrect perception of the circumstances of living conditions for belugas born in captivity.

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

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers work to find a resolution, proposals have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of food for local populations.

A planned protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which now received government approval, has been contentious. The planned site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a long term answer for a number of the whales.

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

Others say the idea of a refuge represents a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable plan in the short term.

The project lead, head of the initiative, said the site will replicate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|