Two Beluga Whales Rescued From Performing As Show Animals In Aquarium

Aug 10, 2020 by apost team

Little Grey and Little White, two 12-year-old female belugas, who had been forced to perform as show animals in a Chinese aquarium for almost a decade were finally rescued by a UK-based charity. A video shows the two beluga whales struggling to contain their excitement as their about to swim in their new open-water refuge for the first time.

Over the past decade, Little Grey and Little White lived at the Changfeng Ocean World in Shanghai. There they were forced to perform tricks in front of an audience in order to receive some fish to eat.

According to the Whales and Dolphins Conservation, the two beluga whales came to the Chinese aquarium in 2011 after they were taken from a Russian whale research center.

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That means Little Grey and Little White didn’t swim in the ocean for nearly a decade. Luckily, the UK-based charity, Sea Life Trust came to their rescue and shipped them around 6,000 miles away to their new open-water sanctuary. 

In order to get the two beluga whales out of the Changfeng Ocean World to bring them to their new open-water refuge many miles away, the animals were placed in specially manufactured slings that would protect their bodies. Then Little Grey and Little White had to go on a long trip, traveling via truck, a Boeing 747-400ERF cargo aircraft, and finally a harbor tugboat, according to Asia Cargo News. 

Luckily both whales survived the long trip and arrived safely:

"We're absolutely delighted to be able to share the news that Little Grey and Little White are safely in their sea sanctuary care pools and are just one step away from being released into their open water home,” stated Andy Bool, head of the Sea Life Trust. "Following extensive planning and rehearsals, the first stage of their release back to the ocean was as smooth as we had hoped and planned for.”

Before Little Grey and Little White will be released into their huge open-water sanctuary, the two whales were brought to a bayside care pool for the time being to adjust to their new natural environment.

Sea Life Trust said in a statement: "Little Grey and Little White are now in their bayside care pool and will need a short period of time to acclimatise to their new natural environment and all the outdoor elements before their final release into the wider sanctuary in Klettsvik Bay in the Westman Islands off the south coast of Iceland.”

We’re so happy to see Little Grey and Little White so happy in their new natural environment! Are you as excited for their final release into the wider open-water sanctuary as we are? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to your friends and family!