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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute small “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a tussle between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated debate over their fate often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been closely studied by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near Niagara Falls where they are housed stated it would consider to put them down unless the federal government pays for the cost of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and group interactions point to they are highly cognitive mammals – something Kristy Burgess learned first-hand.

Burgess spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that entailed earning the trust of the sea creatures.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so magical and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the details and quirks in their dispositions. She cultivated a special affection for two female belugas with contrasting temperaments.

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

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales progressed against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her three years at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which activists say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not admit visitors to the public over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Concrete is falling apart from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and navigate with pieces in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a questionnaire, but in the past asserted: “The whales … receive far superior health care and constant attention than any human in the UK, or anywhere else.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in early March following the death of Eos, an ailing beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the park suspected information of the incident were disclosed to the news outlets and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left Burgess and staff members in distress. She says the facility’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any attempts to humanely kill even a one beluga would require “considerable manpower”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

Burgess backs calls for the whales to be taken immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to send the whales to China.

“Granting the proposal would have meant a ongoing situation in confinement and a return to performance for audiences,” the official stated. “As society, we know that belugas belong in the wild, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing permit an relocation that would prolong the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reveal a wider misunderstanding of the facts of existence for belugas born in captivity.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a resolution, ideas have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A suggested protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which has received regulatory clearance, has proven contentious. The planned site, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, is not yet built. Proponents remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a long term resolution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the possibility of a protected habitat reflects a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a feasible plan in the coming months.

The project lead, director of the plan, said the facility will mimic the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the well-being of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|