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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a kind nature.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have been entangled in a struggle between a closed attraction, public officials and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their destiny often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been closely studied by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the federal government disallowed the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near the famous falls where they are held warned to euthanize them unless the federal government funds the upkeep of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and group interactions point to they are highly cognitive creatures – something a former trainer learned first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a position that involved earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of love. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the details and quirks in their dispositions. She formed a particular love for two female belugas with different personalities.

“One whale chose me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Each altered the way I understand relationships.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Her interaction with the whales developed against a context of rising activist criticism to their confinement.

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, died. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility links to natural mortality, but which campaigners say points to the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The park did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand effects of the cessation. “Structural materials is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and navigate with pieces in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not respond to a request for comment, but in the past stated: “The whales … get far superior health care and 24/7 supervision than any human in the UK, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in early March following the passing of a beluga, an sick beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought information of the incident were shared to the press and she was released shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left her and staff members in despair. She says the facility’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” endeavor, adding any plans to put down even a one beluga would require “considerable personnel”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

She backs demands for the whales to be transferred immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and reduced personnel.

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

“Granting the application would have meant a continued life in confinement and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official wrote. “As the public, we know that belugas belong in the sea, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in clear conscience approve an relocation that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured.”

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

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in captivity and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As officials attempt to find a answer, ideas have emerged, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of sustenance for local populations.

A proposed refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received regulatory clearance, has shown to be highly debated. The prospective location, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a long term solution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ fate.

Different voices say the possibility of a sanctuary represents a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable plan in the near future.

An official, head of the plan, said the location will mimic the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger area. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|