Two beluga whales were released back into the sea after 10 years at a Chinese aquarium.

Little Grey and Little White are two beluga whales that have lived for over 10 years at the Chengfeng Aquarium in Shanghai. After a long effort by British conservationists, they have been moved to a special marine mammal sanctuary in Klettsvik Bay, Iceland.

Having become accustomed to captivity, Little Khôi and Little Bạch could not survive in the ocean, so a special marine reserve was the most suitable place for them. These two beluga whales are believed to have been captured in the subpolar waters of Russia when they were only two years old.

In June 2019, they endured a journey of over 30 hours by land and air from Shanghai to Iceland, but after nearly a year of acclimatization and training in a specialized care facility, Xiao Kui and Xiao Bai were finally released into the sea. They were trained by experts to hold their breath longer, dive deeper, and stay underwater for longer periods. They were also trained to develop the necessary muscles for swimming in currents or tidal conditions. The two beluga whales also spent time acclimatizing to cold water before being released into the bay, as this species primarily inhabits the cold waters around the Arctic. In the wild, they typically live from 40 to 60 years.

Sea Life Trust, the organization behind the campaign, said the sanctuary in Klettsvik Bay is the world's first nature reserve for marine mammals, and that it will "provide a more natural and expansive habitat for beluga whales." The sanctuary covers an area of ​​32,000 square meters.²The enclosure has an average depth of 10 meters and is separated from the bay by a net. Staff say the two beluga whales are still eating well and communicating with them – a positive sign. Little Khoi is more active, even wandering around to explore the sanctuary, while Little Bach remains somewhat reserved.

The two whales will be continuously monitored to ensure they adapt well to their new environment. It is expected that, if Little Khôi and Little Bạch do not experience any problems, another 8 to 10 beluga whales will be brought to the Klettsvik Bay sanctuary in the future. Currently, there are still over 300 individuals of this species living in captivity around the world.

Huong Thao