Two Beluga Whales Are Finally Free and Back in the Sea After Nine Years of Captivity
It is heartening to know that humans are working together to return these animals to their natural habitat, as it was also humans who kept them captive for all these years. This action may not be simple, but it demonstrates how humans can restore what was lost through constant effort and dedication.
After almost a decade of captivity, these two Beluga whales have been successfully rescued by SEA LIFE Trust, a UK-based animal welfare group that operates the Beluga Whale Sanctuary.
The sanctuary is located at Klettsvik Bay off the south coast of Iceland, which required transporting the whales 6,000 miles from their previous location. Additionally, this sanctuary is the first Beluga whale sanctuary in the world.
The Beluga whales were identified as Little Grey and Little White. As reported by ABC News, these whales were taken from the wild when they were young by the Russian whale research center in 2011.
Subsequently, they were brought to Ocean World in Shanghai, China, where they performed as show animals for the past nine years.
Behind the smiles of these Beluga whales lies a challenging journey that lasted nearly a decade. However, it is reassuring to know that they will experience the feeling of being home again after all these years.
Beluga whale smiles happily while being transferred to their new sanctuary.
Beluga whales and the SEA LIFE Trust team.
The Beluga whales being transported to the sanctuary.
Little Grey and Little White were constantly monitored by the expert team and veterinarians to ensure their safety throughout the trip. Upon arrival, they will also need some time to adjust to their new environment.
Little Grey and Little White in their bayside care pool.
In a Twitter post by Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), they happily announced the news about the whales being acclimated in the meantime. WDC is an organization dedicated to ensuring that every whale and dolphin in the world is safe and free.
"We can now announce the fantastic news that Little White and Little Grey are safely in the bay! They will stay in the sea sanctuary care pools for a short time to acclimatize until they are ready to move into the wider bay."
The face of freedom.
On the other hand, SEA LIFE Trust has continuously pursued its goal through their website, where they encourage families to purchase plush toys as a way to support their expert care team in looking after the whales. With every purchase, they will also include photos of the Beluga whales, the whale sanctuary, posters, and leaflets containing information about the rescued animals.
The actual video of the Beluga whales being rescued on ABC News.
Indeed, nothing feels like home. It is fortunate for these Beluga whales to have met these amazing people who have shown that animals are no less important than humans.
They, too, deserve their freedom to live and be happy wherever they belong. Sharing this freedom and allowing other animals to enjoy life serves as a reminder that every creature on this planet is important.
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