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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a gentle spirit.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have been caught in a tussle between a defunct facility, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned debate over their destiny often fails to consider the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the people who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are kept warned to end their lives unless the authorities pays for the expense of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and communal behavior suggest they are highly cognitive animals – something one caretaker learned personally.

Burgess spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that entailed gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

“Developing those relationships over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was even so amazed by the nuances and unique traits in their dispositions. She developed a deep bond for a pair of whales with different temperaments.

“Eve accepted me. The other required effort,” she said. “They altered the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales progressed against a context of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her three years at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility links to age-related causes, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not operate to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the cessation. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and swim around with fragments in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but previously stated: “The whales … obtain far superior health care and 24/7 supervision than any human in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was fired from the park in recent months following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility thought details of the incident were leaked to the press and she was released soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in despair. She says the park’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “considerable manpower”, trucks and specialized tools.

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

She supports requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official rejected a proposal to send the whales to China.

“To approve the request would have meant a ongoing existence in enclosure and a return to display for amusement,” the official wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the sea, not in tanks for our entertainment. I could not in clear conscience approve an transfer that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments reveal a broader incorrect perception of the facts of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need constant supervision for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials work to find a resolution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of food for local populations.

A proposed sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received government approval, has been most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Advocates remain positive that it could in time represent a sustainable resolution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary reflects a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a viable solution in the coming months.

Charles Vinick, head of the plan, said the location will mimic the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|