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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but fiercely protective friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their future often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the national authorities blocked the export of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near the famous falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the government funds the cost of their survival. Canada’s marine resources official has refused that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills indicate they are deeply intelligent animals – something Kristy Burgess discovered personally.

Burgess spent a significant period as a whale caretaker, a position that involved building relationships of the marine predators.

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and quirks in their personalities. She cultivated a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing natures.

“Eve chose me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Each transformed the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition 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 facility, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility links to expected lifespan, but which activists say reflects the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The facility did not admit visitors to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the shutdown. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are curious and so they take pieces and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The facility did not respond to a request for comment, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far better health care and 24/7 supervision than any human in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was fired from the facility in the spring following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought details of the death were shared to the media and she was fired soon after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and other caretakers in anguish. She says the park’s ultimatum to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense staff”, trucks and specialized tools.

“There’s no way in hell the caretakers would ever do it,” she said.

She supports calls for the whales to be transferred immediately from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and shrinking team.

In the autumn, Canada’s government official rejected a request to send the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a perpetual life in captivity and a return to performance for audiences,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that marine mammals belong in the wild, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in good conscience approve an relocation that would continue the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reveal a more general lack of awareness of the realities of existence for belugas raised in confinement.

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

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a answer, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A suggested protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which now received official endorsement, has shown to be most controversial. The planned location, which includes 100 acres of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Proponents remain hopeful that it could eventually represent a sustainable resolution for some of the whales.

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

Different voices say the prospect of a refuge reflects a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a feasible plan in the short term.

Charles Vinick, leader of the plan, said the site will simulate the mental engagement and nutrition the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the medical condition of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|