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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an charming little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a large but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a kind nature.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canadian entertainment facility have become pawns in a struggle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their fate often ignores the complexities of the whales who, after living their entire lives in confinement, have been closely studied by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the federal government prevented the export of the belugas to China, the controversial amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed warned to put them down unless the authorities covers the cost of their care. Canada’s fisheries minister has rejected that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and social skills suggest they are remarkably smart mammals – something a former trainer learned directly.

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

“Developing those relationships over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the start, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the details and quirks in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for a pair of whales with different natures.

“One whale accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Each transformed the way I understand relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s interaction with the whales progressed against a background of growing public opposition to their captivity.

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In all, nineteen belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility links to natural mortality, but which advocates say indicates the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The facility did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Structural materials is breaking off from the tanks because they’re in disrepair and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and navigate with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not reply to a request for comment, but earlier claimed: “The whales … receive far superior veterinary services and around the clock supervision than any individual in the Britain, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the park in recent months following the passing of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park thought details of the death were shared to the press and she was fired soon after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the park’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “logistically impossible” undertaking, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a single beluga would require “immense staff”, vehicles and machinery.

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

She backs requests for the whales to be transferred right away from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In recent months, Canada’s government official denied a bid to send the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a perpetual situation in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As the public, we know that marine mammals belong in the sea, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing authorize an export that would prolong the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments indicate a wider incorrect perception of the realities of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The public needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in enclosed habitats and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as easy as saying ‘shut it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers struggle to find a solution, ideas have surfaced, some of which have questionable practicality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A planned refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received official endorsement, has proven most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain positive that it could ultimately represent a permanent resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among trainers she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Different voices say the idea of a sanctuary reflects a worldwide trend away from animal displays and could represent a workable solution in the short term.

Charles Vinick, director of the plan, said the facility will simulate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|