They are animals who appear to have a constant grin on their faces. Two beluga whales are likely to be considerably happy now, courtesy to the Sea Life Trust, a British organization. For the first time in over a decade, the whales, known as Little Grey and Little White, have been released from captivity in China to swim in the water.
The organization transferred the 12-year-old pair from a Chinese aquarium, where they served as show animals, to the world’s first open water refuge in a meticulously planned 6,000-mile voyage. They’re currently acclimating in a particular portion of the facility at Klettsvik Bay, off Iceland’s south coast, before being released into the larger sanctuary.
‘We’re incredibly happy to be able to share the news that Little Grey and Little White are securely in their marine sanctuary care pools and are just one step away from being released into their open water habitat,’ said Andy Bool, CEO of the Sea Life Trust.
The initial stage of their return to the water went as smoothly as we had anticipated and planned after significant preparation and rehearsals.’ The belugas, both females, have not been in the water since they were removed from a Russian whale research center in 2011, according to the organization.
The cetaceans were eventually shipped to China, where they were trained to perform fish-catching routines. The couple was strapped onto specially engineered slings with custom-made foam matting for their trip to Iceland, which included a lorry, a Boeing 747-400ERF cargo plane, and a port tugboat.
In the next weeks, they will complete the last step of their release. The belugas have been looking for a new home since Merlin Entertainments, the UK company that owns Sea Life centers, purchased Changfeng Ocean World aquarium in China in 2012. To support the procedure, the corporation gave a “significant payment” to the Sea Life Trust.
Little Grey is described as “extremely lively” by the Sea Life Trust, but she also has a naughty side, spitting water at her caregivers. Little White is “far quieter,” yet she still enjoys playing and builds strong ties with her caregivers. A beluga’s lifespan ranges from 40 to 60 years. There are an estimated 200,000 people that live in the wild.
