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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie Botts is an charming little “sweetheart”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a sizeable but very loyal friend. Zephyr has “endless energy” and moves like a worm. Lillooet the beluga is the “loving presence” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canadian amusement park have been entangled in a disagreement between a defunct facility, public officials and welfare campaigners.

But those closest to the whales say the impassioned controversy over their destiny often ignores the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in enclosed habitats, have been closely studied by the caretakers who interact with them daily.

After the Canadian government prevented the sale of the belugas to China, the controversial amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are housed threatened to end their lives unless the federal government pays for the upkeep of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has denied that demand, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Highly Cognitive Sea Creatures

Scientists say that belugas’ neural makeup, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and group interactions point to they are highly cognitive creatures – something Kristy Burgess observed first-hand.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a job that entailed gaining confidence of the marine predators.

“Building up those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very unsure of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more trusting with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

The trainer knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless amazed by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She cultivated a particular love for two female belugas with different natures.

“One whale accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Each altered the way I perceive relationships.”

Growing Opposition and Deteriorating Conditions

Her relationship with the whales progressed against a background of rising activist criticism to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the attraction, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, Kiska, passed away. In all, 19 belugas have died at the park since recent years, a toll which the park links to age-related causes, but which advocates say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the public over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand results of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re in disrepair and not being fixed. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not comment to a inquiry, but previously claimed: “The whales … obtain far better health care and 24/7 attention than any individual in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was terminated from the park in the spring following the demise of Eos, an unwell beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the park suspected particulars of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was fired not long after.

The uncertainty over the whales’ future has left her and other caretakers in distress. She says the park’s warning to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “logistically impossible” task, adding any attempts to put down even a single beluga would require “immense staff”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

She advocates for requests for the whales to be removed immediately from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In recent months, the nation’s fisheries minister rejected a bid to send the whales to China.

“To approve the application would have meant a perpetual situation in enclosure and a reversion to public entertainment,” the minister wrote. “As Canadians, we know that whales are meant for the sea, not in tanks for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience permit an export that would perpetuate the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s remarks indicate a broader misunderstanding of the circumstances of life for belugas born in captivity.

“The people needs to understand these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “People just don’t realize that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As decision makers struggle to find a resolution, ideas have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of Canada’s north – where whales are a primary resource of nourishment for local populations.

A planned sanctuary in the region of eastern Canada, which has received government approval, has shown to be most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes extensive space of penned in ocean, remains undeveloped. Proponents remain hopeful that it could in time represent a long term resolution for some of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s consulted, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “merely an experiment” in the whales’ fate.

Others say the prospect of a protected habitat indicates a changing attitudes away from captive facilities and could represent a workable plan in the near future.

Charles Vinick, director of the initiative, said the facility will mimic the mental engagement and feeding regimen the whales get from caretakers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the medical condition of whales is thoroughly evaluated, which could take months|an extended period|