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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an adorable small “sweetheart”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a disagreement between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those closest to the whales say the intense debate over their future often overlooks the complexities of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the people who see them each day.

After the federal government blocked the export of the belugas to China, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are held warned to end their lives unless the government pays for the expense of keeping them alive. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, problem solving and group interactions point to they are deeply intelligent creatures – something Kristy Burgess discovered first-hand.

She spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a position that entailed gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

“Developing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the start, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their personalities. She developed a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with different personalities.

“Eve selected me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Both changed the way I perceive bonding.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s interaction with the whales progressed against a context of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her time at the park, multiple belugas and the park’s one killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the park links to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say points to the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The park did not admit visitors to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly results of the closure. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not reply to a request for comment, but earlier asserted: “The whales … obtain far higher quality veterinary services and around the clock supervision than any individual in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the park suspected details of the death were leaked to the media and she was released shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ outcome has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any efforts to put down 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.

Burgess backs calls for the whales to be removed immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and reduced personnel.

In the autumn, the nation’s government official turned down a proposal to export the whales to China.

“Granting the request would have meant a continued life in confinement and a reversion to performance for audiences,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that belugas belong in the wild, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an export that would continue the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reveal a wider lack of awareness of the realities of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

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

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials work to find a answer, ideas have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the natural habitat of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of food for Inuit communities.

A proposed sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received government approval, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective site, which includes 100 acres of penned in ocean, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a sustainable solution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among staff she’s consulted, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “merely an untested concept” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the idea of a sanctuary reflects a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible approach in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the plan, said the location will replicate the mental engagement and nutrition the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|