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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an adorable little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but guardian-like companion. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a disagreement between a shuttered park, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their fate often fails to consider the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been carefully observed by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities prevented the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the controversial attraction near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to euthanize them unless the federal government pays for the expense of their care. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that demand, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain situation.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, cognitive challenges and communal behavior point to they are remarkably smart mammals – something a former trainer observed directly.

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

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so magical and gratifying.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and unique traits in their characters. She formed a deep bond for two female belugas with different natures.

“Eve selected me. The other required effort,” she said. “They changed the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her time at the facility, multiple belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the park attributes to natural mortality, but which advocates say indicates the inadequate care in which they were housed.

The facility did not operate to the public over the recent season, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes results of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are inquisitive and so they take pieces and move about with chunks in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not reply to a questionnaire, but earlier stated: “The whales … receive far better veterinary services and 24/7 supervision than any person in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in early March following the demise of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility thought information of the incident were shared to the news outlets and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s ultimatum to euthanize its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any plans to euthanize even a individual beluga would require “immense manpower”, equipment and specialized tools.

“It’s impossible in hell the employees would ever do it,” she said.

She advocates for demands for the whales to be taken immediately from the park, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

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

“Allowing the request would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister commented. “As society, we know that belugas belong in the wild, not in enclosures for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing permit an transfer that would prolong the treatment these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments reveal a broader misunderstanding of the circumstances of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have lived entirely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As officials struggle to find a resolution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed protected area in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received official endorsement, has proven highly debated. The future location, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Proponents remain optimistic that it could in time represent a sustainable resolution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the possibility of a refuge represents a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable solution in the near future.

An official, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will simulate the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a more expansive area. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|