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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a big but fiercely protective friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and moves like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based amusement park have been entangled in a struggle between a closed attraction, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned debate over their future often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the humans who see them each day.

After the national authorities prevented the export of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling attraction near the famous falls where they are housed threatened to put them down unless the authorities covers the expense of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that request, placing the thirty whales in an increasingly precarious position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their vocal imitation skills, problem solving and group interactions indicate they are highly cognitive creatures – something Kristy Burgess learned first-hand.

She spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a job that required building relationships of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those bonds over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of love. At the beginning, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the subtleties and unique traits in their characters. She cultivated a special affection for two female belugas with different personalities.

“One whale chose me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “Both transformed the way I view connection.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her connection with the whales evolved against a backdrop of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one killer whale, the orca, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility ascribes to expected lifespan, but which activists say reflects the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The facility did not open to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and swim around with pieces in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not reply to a questionnaire, but earlier asserted: “The whales … receive far superior health care and around the clock care than any person in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in recent months following the death of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to euthanize. She said the facility believed particulars of the incident were leaked to the press and she was released not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the park’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “significant personnel”, vehicles and specialized tools.

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

She advocates for calls for the whales to be removed right away from the park, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

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

“To approve the request would have meant a ongoing situation in enclosure and a reversion to public entertainment,” the minister stated. “As Canadians, we know that belugas are meant for the ocean, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in good conscience authorize an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments reveal a wider misunderstanding of the realities of life for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to understand these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as simple as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As authorities struggle to find a solution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of Canada’s north – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Indigenous peoples.

A proposed sanctuary in the region of eastern Canada, which recently received regulatory clearance, has been most controversial. The planned site, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Advocates remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a permanent resolution for eight of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “only an trial” in the whales’ future.

Others say the possibility of a sanctuary indicates a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable plan in the short term.

The project lead, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will simulate the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales receive from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|