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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an adorable small “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet the beluga is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based amusement park have been entangled in a disagreement between a shuttered park, local and national governments and advocacy groups.

But those most familiar with the whales say the heated discussion over their future often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after living their entire lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the federal government blocked the sale of the belugas to China, the struggling attraction near Niagara Falls where they are held threatened to euthanize them unless the authorities funds the upkeep of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that request, placing the thirty whales in an dangerously unstable position.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Researchers say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, cognitive challenges and social skills point to they are remarkably smart animals – something Kristy Burgess discovered personally.

Burgess spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that entailed earning the trust of the marine predators.

“Establishing those connections over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of affection. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “In time, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so magical and rewarding.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless astounded by the details and quirks in their personalities. She developed a special affection for two female belugas with contrasting personalities.

“Eve selected me. Cleo demanded work,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive bonding.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales evolved against a background of growing public opposition to their enclosure.

During her three years at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, died. In all, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a statistic which the facility ascribes to natural mortality, but which activists say reflects the substandard environment in which they were maintained.

The facility did not operate to the guests over the summer, but the former trainer says she saw with her own eyes effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they grab fragments and move about with chunks in their jaws. It’s upsetting to see.”

The facility did not reply to a questionnaire, but in the past stated: “The whales … get far higher quality health care and constant care than any human in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was terminated from the facility in the spring following the passing of a beluga, an sick beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park believed particulars of the incident were disclosed to the press and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and staff members in despair. She says the facility’s threat to end the lives of its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any efforts to put down even a single beluga would require “significant staff”, equipment and specialized tools.

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

Burgess supports calls for the whales to be removed right away from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and reduced personnel.

In late September, Canada’s fisheries minister rejected a request to send the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the application would have meant a ongoing life in confinement and a return to public entertainment,” the official stated. “As society, we know that marine mammals should be in the sea, not in tanks for our entertainment. I could not in ethical standing authorize an relocation that would continue the conditions these belugas have experienced.”

But Burgess said the official’s remarks indicate a wider misunderstanding of the realities of life for belugas born in captivity.

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

Alternative Habitat and Ongoing Debate

As authorities attempt to find a resolution, proposals have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be let go into the natural habitat of northern regions – where whales are a important part of nourishment for Inuit communities.

A proposed protected area in the province of Nova Scotia, which has received official endorsement, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective site, which includes 100 acres of enclosed sea water, remains undeveloped. Supporters remain hopeful that it could in time represent a long term answer for eight of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “doubts there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ fate.

Some experts say the possibility of a sanctuary represents a broader global shift away from captive facilities and could represent a feasible plan in the coming months.

The project lead, head of the initiative, said the facility will mimic the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales receive from specialists, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|