05:03Two beluga whales, Plombir and Miranda, have successfully completed a challenging journey of approximately 4000 kilometres, arriving safely at the Oceanografic de Valencia in Spain from their previous home in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Wednesday.
This transfer deemed a milestone in animal protection, was undertaken amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which posed significant challenges to the well-being of these marine mammals.
The operation, which lasted approximately 48 hours, involved a team of marine specialists from the Oceanografic de Valencia, alongside experts from Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld in the United States. This collaborative effort was crucial in ensuring the safe transportation and relocation of Plombir and Miranda.
Daniel Garcia, the Whale Caretaker at Oceanogràfic de Valencia, provided insights into the journey and the current condition of the belugas. Despite initial concerns due to the prolonged transport, both whales have shown resilience and are adapting well to their new environment.
"The adaptation is going quite well," Garcia explained. "The animals were going to have a period where they might stop eating, and it would take time to normalise their behaviour. But today, the two animals are already eating and responding very well with their carers."
He further detailed the challenges they faced during the transfer, particularly highlighting the unknowns about the animal's health status and the condition of transport equipment. "Normally, transport crates must be very well designed to minimise risks," Garcia emphasised. "If a crate breaks during transport and leaks water, we could lose the animals."
The urgency of the situation was underscored by the dire conditions in Kharkov, where the dolphinarium housing the belugas faced risks from nearby bombings. "Today, Kharkov has been bombed in some areas," Garcia noted. "The animals were already quite compromised by temperature, feeding, staffing, and so on... So either we moved them now or they could probably perish at any moment."
The decision to relocate Plombir and Miranda to València was driven by the need to ensure their safety and well-being amidst the escalating conflict in Ukraine. Garcia expressed confidence that with proper care and attention, the belugas would recover from the stresses of their journey and thrive in their new environment.
'Adaptation is going quite well' - Beluga whales Plombir and Miranda safely arrive in Valencia amidst Ukrainian conflict
Two beluga whales, Plombir and Miranda, have successfully completed a challenging journey of approximately 4000 kilometres, arriving safely at the Oceanografic de Valencia in Spain from their previous home in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Wednesday.
This transfer deemed a milestone in animal protection, was undertaken amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which posed significant challenges to the well-being of these marine mammals.
The operation, which lasted approximately 48 hours, involved a team of marine specialists from the Oceanografic de Valencia, alongside experts from Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld in the United States. This collaborative effort was crucial in ensuring the safe transportation and relocation of Plombir and Miranda.
Daniel Garcia, the Whale Caretaker at Oceanogràfic de Valencia, provided insights into the journey and the current condition of the belugas. Despite initial concerns due to the prolonged transport, both whales have shown resilience and are adapting well to their new environment.
"The adaptation is going quite well," Garcia explained. "The animals were going to have a period where they might stop eating, and it would take time to normalise their behaviour. But today, the two animals are already eating and responding very well with their carers."
He further detailed the challenges they faced during the transfer, particularly highlighting the unknowns about the animal's health status and the condition of transport equipment. "Normally, transport crates must be very well designed to minimise risks," Garcia emphasised. "If a crate breaks during transport and leaks water, we could lose the animals."
The urgency of the situation was underscored by the dire conditions in Kharkov, where the dolphinarium housing the belugas faced risks from nearby bombings. "Today, Kharkov has been bombed in some areas," Garcia noted. "The animals were already quite compromised by temperature, feeding, staffing, and so on... So either we moved them now or they could probably perish at any moment."
The decision to relocate Plombir and Miranda to València was driven by the need to ensure their safety and well-being amidst the escalating conflict in Ukraine. Garcia expressed confidence that with proper care and attention, the belugas would recover from the stresses of their journey and thrive in their new environment.
Two beluga whales, Plombir and Miranda, have successfully completed a challenging journey of approximately 4000 kilometres, arriving safely at the Oceanografic de Valencia in Spain from their previous home in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Wednesday.
This transfer deemed a milestone in animal protection, was undertaken amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which posed significant challenges to the well-being of these marine mammals.
The operation, which lasted approximately 48 hours, involved a team of marine specialists from the Oceanografic de Valencia, alongside experts from Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld in the United States. This collaborative effort was crucial in ensuring the safe transportation and relocation of Plombir and Miranda.
Daniel Garcia, the Whale Caretaker at Oceanogràfic de Valencia, provided insights into the journey and the current condition of the belugas. Despite initial concerns due to the prolonged transport, both whales have shown resilience and are adapting well to their new environment.
"The adaptation is going quite well," Garcia explained. "The animals were going to have a period where they might stop eating, and it would take time to normalise their behaviour. But today, the two animals are already eating and responding very well with their carers."
He further detailed the challenges they faced during the transfer, particularly highlighting the unknowns about the animal's health status and the condition of transport equipment. "Normally, transport crates must be very well designed to minimise risks," Garcia emphasised. "If a crate breaks during transport and leaks water, we could lose the animals."
The urgency of the situation was underscored by the dire conditions in Kharkov, where the dolphinarium housing the belugas faced risks from nearby bombings. "Today, Kharkov has been bombed in some areas," Garcia noted. "The animals were already quite compromised by temperature, feeding, staffing, and so on... So either we moved them now or they could probably perish at any moment."
The decision to relocate Plombir and Miranda to València was driven by the need to ensure their safety and well-being amidst the escalating conflict in Ukraine. Garcia expressed confidence that with proper care and attention, the belugas would recover from the stresses of their journey and thrive in their new environment.