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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a big but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

A group of thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a struggle between a defunct facility, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the intense controversy over their fate often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after spending their lives in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the federal government blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the embattled facility near the famous falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the expense of their survival. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that request, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Researchers say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and social skills suggest they are deeply intelligent creatures – something Kristy Burgess observed first-hand.

She spent several years as a whale caretaker, a job that required gaining confidence of the sea creatures.

“Building up those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of love. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so extraordinary and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nevertheless astounded by the nuances and quirks in their personalities. She developed a special affection for Eve and Cleopatra with contrasting personalities.

“One whale selected me. Cleo required effort,” she said. “Each altered the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s interaction with the whales evolved against a backdrop of growing public opposition to their confinement.

During her time at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, passed away. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a number which the park ascribes to natural mortality, but which activists say reflects the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The park did not operate to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she observed directly results of the shutdown. “Structural materials is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s distressing to see.”

The park did not comment to a inquiry, but in the past asserted: “The whales … obtain far better health care and constant attention than any individual in the UK, or other places.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the demise of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought information of the death were disclosed to the press and she was released not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left her and current and former trainers in despair. She says the facility’s warning to euthanize its whales is a leverage tool and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any attempts to put down even a one beluga would require “immense personnel”, trucks and machinery.

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

She backs requests for the whales to be taken right away from the park, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

In the autumn, the nation’s fisheries minister denied a bid to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the request would have meant a ongoing existence in captivity and a return to display for amusement,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals are meant for the wild, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an transfer that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s statements reflect a broader incorrect perception of the facts of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need human care for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As officials attempt to find a answer, proposals have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of food for Indigenous peoples.

A planned refuge in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, doesn’t yet exist. Supporters remain positive that it could eventually represent a sustainable solution for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an trial” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts 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.

Charles Vinick, director of the plan, said the site will replicate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales receive from caretakers, albeit in a much larger environment. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|