On February 27, 2019, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) received first-hand news from oceanographic experts and volunteers that Shanghai Chang Feng Ocean World plans to release two Beluga whale sisters, which have been living in the aquarium for as long as 15 years, into the nature reserve tomorrow (February 28). CBCGDF has expressed serious concern over this plan.

Upon hearing the news, CBCGDF immediately contacted our overseas expert for expertise feedback on this releasing plan. The expert is a world renowned senior veterinary, who has been long researching in the field of animal behaviors and practicing and exploring such key questions as animal welfare, animal science and animal management in China. Our expert is currently working closely with CBCGDF on the rescuing of spotted seals in “China Spotted Seals Conservation Area · Dalian”, one protection zone of CBCGDF’s Conservation Area for something at somewhere (CCAfa) system which has been an indispensable supplement to China’s official system of protection areas.

It is said that the Beluga whales will go through adaptive trainings before being moved to their new home. Before Chinese New Year, these whales had just completed desensitization training, which would enable them to become used to stretchers and sound produced by draining pumps. This can be crucial because it would help create a relatively relaxing living condition for the whales during their travel so that they would not feel nervous of being suddenly thrown into a new environment.

Regarding the releasing destination, CBCGDF has been informed that Little White and Little Gray will have a new home, which is the first Beluga whale nature reserve worldwide. This nature reserve was co-founded by Sea Life Trust under Merlin Entertainment and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC). It is intended to be a breakthrough in history and the first conservation area for large cetaceans, which will help them to live freely in the nature. This Beluga whale nature reserve is located in the Klettsvik Bay on the Westman Archipelago Herma Island along the southern coast of Iceland. This vast and exquisite bay is like a serene fairy land, whose water environment is very similar to that in Beluga whale’s homeland Subarctic. This area is encircled by three rock shores, with natural and smooth sea water and an open and relaxed living environment.

However, our expert likewise expressed concern over the releasing plan. She suggested a more thorough investigation should be conducted beforehand. For instance, information including whether the two Beluga whales were born in captivity or caught from wild, their sex and age, their years in captivity, how they were kept in the aquarium, their health condition, when they started training, and location information on where they are to be moved to etc, should be collected and compiled for evaluation. In addition, our expert used her personal experience to explain that a long preparatory period is needed before releasing can actually take place. She mentioned that she was once in Israel doing her PhD on dolphins. The centre had an open sea facility with 14 dolphins, and 3 of them were intended to be released. These dolphins were already used to catch wild fish, but they still required 3 years of rehabilitation before releasing. Therefore, it then seems such a releasing decision should not be made on impulse but warrants more careful consideration. This is because for Little White and Little Gray, who have been kept inside a bath tub pool for 15 years, it is reasonable to assume they have lost (at least some) utility to catch fish after they are obliged to become used to eat dead fish.

Long as a vanguard along the biodiversity conservation frontline, CBCGDF has never slackened its efforts to rescue and save endangered animal and plant species. For instance, CBCGDF has organized a series of activities in response to the most recent 2.11 incident of the poaching of spotted seals in Dalian Changxing Island and spared no effort in rehabilitating the rescued seals. When hearing the news, CBCGDF has expressed earnest willingness to play a more active role in this matter. For this, CBCGDF sincerely hopes that Shanghai Chang Feng Ocean World will take the following suggestions into consideration:

1. More detailed surveys may be carried out for the releasing destination;

2. Expert re-evaluation for the releasing plan may be organized and conducted;

3. A more comprehensive examination of indexes of the whales may be performed;

4. Active involvement of CBCGDF members in this releasing may be encouraged;

5. Programming of the released whales may be provided to CBCGDF, so that we may conduct evaluations and formalize suggestions if possible.

In order to gain more insight into their future living condition, CBCGDF will recently organize expert groups to visit the Beluga whale nature reserve in the Klettsvik Bay along the southern coast of Iceland. Follow-up news may be found from CBCGDF’s official website and other social media platforms.

(Photo source: Internet)

By / Lu Lei