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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming small “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but very loyal companion. Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based amusement park have been caught in a struggle between a defunct facility, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the humans who see them each day.

After the Canadian government blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are held threatened to euthanize them unless the federal government covers the expense of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their sound replication, problem solving and group interactions indicate they are remarkably smart mammals – something a former trainer discovered personally.

She spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a position that entailed building relationships of the marine predators.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so extraordinary and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the details and unique traits in their characters. She formed a particular love for a pair of whales with opposing personalities.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both transformed the way I perceive bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her interaction with the whales evolved against a background of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her time at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, died. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the park attributes to natural mortality, but which advocates say reflects the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the shutdown. “Concrete is breaking off from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and move about with pieces in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not respond to a inquiry, but previously stated: “The whales … get far higher quality health care and constant care than any individual in the Britain, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was terminated from the facility in the spring following the death of a beluga, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the park suspected details of the death were disclosed to the media and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in anguish. She says the facility’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any efforts to put down even a individual beluga would require “significant staff”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She supports demands for the whales to be taken right away from the park, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

In late September, the nation’s fisheries minister denied a proposal to send the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a perpetual existence in captivity and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official stated. “As the public, we know that marine mammals are meant for the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing approve an export that would prolong the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements reflect a broader incorrect perception of the facts of living conditions for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers attempt to find a answer, proposals have been put forward, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of food for Indigenous peoples.

A planned protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which now received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The planned location, which includes extensive space of protected cove, is not yet built. Supporters remain optimistic that it could in time represent a permanent resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Different voices say the prospect of a refuge represents a broader global shift away from animal displays and could represent a feasible plan in the coming months.

The project lead, leader of the plan, said the facility will mimic the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales obtain from caretakers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|