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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a big but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a tussle between a closed attraction, public officials and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the people who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the struggling facility near Niagara Falls where they are housed threatened to end their lives unless the authorities covers the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has rejected that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and communal behavior point to they are remarkably smart animals – something one caretaker observed first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that involved gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and unique traits in their characters. She developed a particular love for two female belugas with contrasting personalities.

“Eve chose me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Each transformed the way I understand connection.”

Growing Opposition and Facility Decline

Burgess’s relationship with the whales evolved against a context of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her tenure at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a number which the park links to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were kept.

The park did not open to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she observed directly consequences of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being repaired. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and move about with pieces in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not respond to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … obtain far higher quality veterinary services and constant supervision than any individual in the Britain, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in recent months following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the facility believed details of the incident were disclosed to the news outlets and she was released shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and staff members in despair. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any plans to put down even a individual beluga would require “significant staff”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be transferred promptly from the park, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In recent months, the nation’s government official turned down a proposal to send the whales to China.

“Granting the application would have meant a perpetual existence in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As society, we know that marine mammals belong in the wild, not in enclosures for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience approve an transfer that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements indicate a more general incorrect perception of the facts of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as easy as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As authorities struggle to find a resolution, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for local populations.

A planned sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which now received government approval, has been highly debated. The prospective site, which includes a large area of protected cove, is not yet built. Proponents remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a permanent resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Different voices say the prospect of a sanctuary reflects a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a feasible plan in the short term.

The project lead, director of the initiative, said the facility will mimic the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|