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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an cute little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a big but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “endless energy” and sways like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

A group of thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a disagreement between a shuttered park, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the impassioned discussion over their destiny often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government disallowed the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled amusement park near the famous falls where they are housed stated it would consider to euthanize them unless the federal government funds the upkeep of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has refused that request, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious situation.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their vocal imitation skills, intellectual tasks and social skills indicate they are remarkably smart creatures – something a former trainer learned directly.

Burgess spent three years as a marine mammal specialist, a position that involved building relationships of the sea creatures.

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

Burgess knew the whales were highly intelligent, but she says she was nonetheless amazed by the subtleties and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She developed a special affection for a pair of whales with contrasting personalities.

“One whale selected me. The other made me earn it,” she said. “They altered the way I perceive bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales evolved against a context of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, Kiska, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the park links to natural mortality, but which advocates say reflects the poor conditions in which they were maintained.

The park did not operate to the public over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly results of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re degrading and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and move about with fragments in their mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not comment to a request for comment, but earlier asserted: “The whales … receive far better health care and around the clock care than any human in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in recent months following the death of Eos, an unwell beluga the park staff had to put down. She said the park thought information of the incident were leaked to the press and she was fired not long after.

The ambiguity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the facility’s ultimatum to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any plans to humanely kill even a individual beluga would require “considerable staff”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

She supports calls for the whales to be transferred immediately from the park, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In recent months, the nation’s government official rejected a proposal to export the whales to China.

“Allowing the request would have meant a perpetual life in captivity and a reversion to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that whales are meant for the ocean, not in pools for our entertainment. I could not in good conscience permit an export that would continue the treatment these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s comments reveal a wider misunderstanding of the circumstances of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need human care for the rest of their years,” she said. “People just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As authorities attempt to find a resolution, ideas have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the open waters of northern regions – where whales are a key source of nourishment for local populations.

A suggested protected area in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has shown to be most controversial. The future location, which includes 100 acres of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could ultimately represent a sustainable solution for eight of the whales.

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

Some experts say the idea of a sanctuary reflects a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a workable solution in the short term.

An official, head of the sanctuary project, said the site will simulate the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales obtain from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger environment. He said after the health of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|