Two Beluga Whales Are Finally Free and Back in the Sea After Nine Years of Captivity
After nine long years in captivity, two beluga whales are finally getting a second chance at life in the sea. Their journey from a show tank in China to a sanctuary in Iceland is the kind of rescue story that feels almost unreal.
Little Grey and Little White were taken from the wild as young whales in 2011, then spent years performing at Ocean World in Shanghai. Now, SEA LIFE Trust has moved them to Klettsvik Bay, a protected sanctuary off the south coast of Iceland, after a 6,000-mile transfer that took serious planning and care.
Their story has a rare ending, and it is only just beginning.
Beluga whale smiles happily while being transferred to their new sanctuary.
Beluga whales and the SEA LIFE Trust team.
And talk about a long wait, Cholita the circus bear finally got freedom after 20 years in captivity.
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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