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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an cute little “playful character”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion” – is a big but fiercely protective companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “constant motion” and sways like a worm. Lillooet is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been caught in a struggle between a closed attraction, local and national governments and animal rights activists.

But those closest to the whales say the intense debate over their fate often overlooks the individual traits of the whales who, after living their entire lives in enclosed habitats, have been carefully observed by the caretakers who work with them regularly.

After the Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled attraction near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to euthanize them unless the authorities funds the expense of their care. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that demand, placing the 30 whales in an increasingly precarious circumstance.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Scientists say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their sound replication, problem solving and group interactions point to they are deeply intelligent mammals – something one caretaker discovered first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that involved earning the trust of the sea creatures.

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

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nonetheless surprised by the details and unique traits in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with opposing temperaments.

“One whale selected me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Each transformed the way I perceive bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

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

During her three years at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, Kiska, succumbed. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which activists say reflects the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The facility did not open to the public over the summer, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand consequences of the closure. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but previously stated: “The whales … get far better medical attention and around the clock care than any individual in the Britain, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was fired from the facility in early March following the passing of Eos, an sick beluga the caretakers had to put down. She said the park suspected details of the death were leaked to the press and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The ambiguity over the whales’ future has left Burgess and other caretakers in distress. She says the facility’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a leverage tool and is a “logistically impossible” endeavor, adding any plans to put down even a single beluga would require “considerable staff”, vehicles and specialized tools.

“There’s no way in hell the caretakers would ever do it,” she said.

Burgess supports demands for the whales to be removed immediately from the park, with its deteriorating pools and shrinking team.

In late September, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the application would have meant a continued existence in captivity and a reversion to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that belugas should be in the ocean, not in enclosures for our amusement. I could not in good conscience permit an relocation that would perpetuate the situation these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reflect a more general incorrect perception of the realities of living conditions for belugas raised in confinement.

“The society needs to realize these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the foreseeable future,” she said. “The public just don’t comprehend 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 emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of food for local populations.

A suggested refuge in the region of Nova Scotia, which recently received regulatory clearance, has proven highly debated. The prospective location, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Proponents 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 “doubts there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ well-being.

Others say the prospect of a protected habitat reflects a worldwide trend away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable approach in the near future.

Charles Vinick, leader of the initiative, said the site will simulate the intellectual stimulation and nutrition the whales get from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the well-being of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|