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

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canada-based amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a shuttered park, government authorities and welfare campaigners.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense debate over their fate often ignores the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in captivity, have been closely studied by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities disallowed the export of the belugas to China, the controversial amusement park near Niagara Falls where they are kept warned to end their lives unless the federal government covers the cost of their care. Canada’s marine resources official has rejected that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Intelligent Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ brain structure, along with their mimicry abilities, intellectual tasks and communal behavior point to they are remarkably smart creatures – something a former trainer observed first-hand.

Burgess spent several years as a beluga trainer, a role that entailed building relationships of the sea creatures.

“Establishing those relationships over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the outset, they’re very cautious of you,” she said. “In time, you gain reciprocal understanding. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and rewarding.”

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nonetheless surprised by the subtleties and quirks in their personalities. She developed a deep bond for Eve and Cleopatra with different temperaments.

“One whale accepted me. Cleo made me earn it,” she said. “Each changed the way I view bonding.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Burgess’s relationship with the whales evolved against a context of increasing societal concern to their captivity.

During her three years at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a number which the facility attributes to age-related causes, but which activists say points to the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not open to the guests over the recent season, but the former trainer says she witnessed firsthand effects of the closure. “Concrete is deteriorating from the tanks because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are inquisitive and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a request for comment, but previously asserted: “The whales … obtain far better health care and constant care than any person in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

Burgess was dismissed from the facility in the spring following the demise of Eos, an ailing beluga the caretakers had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought particulars of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was released shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ outcome has left Burgess and other caretakers in anguish. She says the facility’s warning to kill its whales is a bargaining chip and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any plans to humanely kill even a individual beluga would require “significant manpower”, trucks and heavy equipment.

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

Burgess backs demands for the whales to be transferred promptly from the facility, with its crumbling tanks and dwindling staff.

In late September, the nation’s fisheries minister turned down a proposal to export the whales to China.

“Granting the application would have meant a perpetual situation in confinement and a return to display for amusement,” the official wrote. “As Canadians, we know that belugas are meant for the sea, not in pools for our amusement. I could not in ethical standing approve an transfer that would continue the situation these belugas have suffered.”

But the former trainer said the official’s comments indicate a broader incorrect perception of the facts of existence for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to understand these are whales that have lived entirely in captivity and they will need human care for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Many just don’t understand that it’s not as simple as saying ‘end operations’.”

Alternative Habitat and Continuing Discussion

As authorities attempt to find a solution, ideas have emerged, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of nourishment for local populations.

A proposed protected area in the region of eastern Canada, which recently received official endorsement, has been most controversial. The prospective facility, which includes extensive space of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Supporters remain positive that it could in time represent a long term resolution for some of the whales.

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

Others say the idea of a refuge indicates a changing attitudes away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a viable plan in the coming months.

The project lead, leader of the sanctuary project, said the site will simulate the mental engagement 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|