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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an charming small “ham sandwich”. Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a big but very loyal friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a heart of gold.

Thirty captive beluga whales in a Canadian entertainment facility have been caught in a struggle between a shuttered park, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated controversy over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who see them each day.

After the federal government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to put them down unless the government pays for the cost of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has refused that demand, placing the 30 whales in an ever more uncertain circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and social skills point to they are deeply intelligent creatures – something Kristy Burgess learned first-hand.

She spent a significant period as a marine mammal specialist, a role that required gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of regularity and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain mutual trust. 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 nonetheless astounded by the details and unique traits in their characters. She developed a special affection for two female belugas with different natures.

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

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s connection with the whales progressed against a background of rising activist criticism to their captivity.

During her time at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In total, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a number which the facility links to age-related causes, but which campaigners say indicates the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The park did not admit visitors to the guests over the recent season, but Burgess says she witnessed firsthand results of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not reply to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … get far higher quality medical attention and constant attention than any human in the Britain, or anywhere else.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the death of a beluga, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to euthanize. She said the park thought information of the death were disclosed to the media and she was let go not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and current and former trainers in anguish. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “practically unfeasible” endeavor, adding any efforts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “considerable manpower”, equipment and machinery.

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

Burgess backs requests for the whales to be taken immediately from the facility, with its failing enclosures and dwindling staff.

In recent months, the nation’s government official turned down a request to transfer the whales to China.

“Granting the application would have meant a ongoing existence in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales belong in the wild, not in tanks for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an relocation that would prolong the conditions these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements indicate a more general misunderstanding of the facts of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have existed solely in confinement and they will need constant supervision for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “The public just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers struggle to find a solution, suggestions have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be released into the open waters of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of food for local populations.

A suggested protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which now received official endorsement, has been highly debated. The prospective facility, which includes extensive space of protected cove, is not yet built. Supporters remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a sustainable resolution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s discussed with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary represents a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a feasible approach in the near future.

An official, head of the initiative, said the location will mimic the cognitive activities and nutrition the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|