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Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie is an adorable little “ham sandwich”. The whale Orion – nicknamed “Onion Ring” – is a big but guardian-like friend. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and moves like a worm. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty captive marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a tussle between a closed attraction, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the heated discussion over their destiny often ignores the individual traits of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been thoroughly researched by the people who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities blocked the sale of the belugas to a foreign facility, the embattled facility near Niagara Falls where they are kept stated it would consider to put them down unless the government funds the expense of their survival. The nation’s fisheries minister has denied that ultimatum, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable situation.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that belugas’ neuroanatomy, along with their mimicry abilities, problem solving and group interactions point to they are deeply intelligent creatures – something a former trainer learned first-hand.

Burgess spent three years as a whale caretaker, a position that required building relationships of the sea creatures.

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

The trainer knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the subtleties and quirks in their dispositions. She formed a particular love for Eve and Cleopatra with different temperaments.

“Eve accepted me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Both altered the way I perceive connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

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

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single killer whale, the orca, died. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since recent years, a toll which the facility attributes to expected lifespan, but which campaigners say reflects the poor conditions in which they were housed.

The park did not admit visitors to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly consequences of the cessation. “Concrete is deteriorating from the pools because they’re degrading and not being maintained. The whales are curious and so they take pieces and move about with pieces in their jaws. It’s distressing to see.”

The facility did not reply to a inquiry, but previously stated: “The whales … receive far superior medical attention and around the clock attention than any person in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.”

Fate in Limbo and Proposed Solutions

The former employee was fired from the facility in early March following the death of Eos, an sick beluga the park staff had to humanely kill. She said the facility thought particulars of the death were disclosed to the media and she was fired shortly thereafter.

The uncertainty over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and staff members in anguish. She says the park’s threat to kill its whales is a leverage tool and is a “practically unfeasible” undertaking, adding any efforts to humanely kill even a one beluga would require “immense manpower”, vehicles and heavy equipment.

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

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

In recent months, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to send the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the application would have meant a ongoing situation in confinement and a return to display for amusement,” the minister wrote. “As society, we know that whales should be in the ocean, not in tanks for our amusement. I could not in clear conscience authorize an transfer that would prolong the conditions these belugas have suffered.”

But Burgess said the minister’s statements reveal a wider misunderstanding of the realities of existence for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The society needs to grasp these are whales that have existed solely in enclosed habitats and they will need ongoing assistance for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t comprehend that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘end operations’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Continuing Discussion

As authorities work to find a answer, suggestions have emerged, some of which have minimal feasibility. A suggested plan called for the belugas to be freed into the natural habitat of the Arctic – where whales are a important part of nourishment for local populations.

A suggested sanctuary in the province of eastern Canada, which recently received official endorsement, has shown to be contentious. The planned facility, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Supporters remain optimistic that it could in time represent a sustainable resolution for a number of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among staff she’s spoken with, there is “no trust there” about what she said is “simply an trial” in the whales’ future.

Some experts say the prospect of a sanctuary represents a changing attitudes away from animal displays and could represent a workable plan in the short term.

The project lead, director of the plan, said the facility will simulate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales get from trainers, albeit in a much larger area. He said after the health of whales is completely examined, which could take months|an extended period|