A Beluga whale at Lotte Aquarium / Courtesy of hotpinkdolphins
By Kim Se-jeong
On Oct. 24, 2019, Lotte Aquarium in Seoul introduced plans to launch a Beluga whale from its water tank inside 5 years. The choice got here after the second dying of a Beluga on the facility, reportedly attributable to melancholy and tinnitus. The announcement was welcomed by animal rights activists.
Nevertheless, 5 years later, the whale continues to be within the water tank on the aquarium, and the corporate continues to make a revenue by means of aggressive promoting that includes the whale.
Beluga whales, native to the Arctic, often dive to depths of 20 meters, with the deepest reaching 500 m. These whales may also journey as much as 1,000 kilometers. The aquarium’s tank, nonetheless, is just 7.5 meters deep and fewer than 1 kilometer lengthy. The Beluga whale arrived within the aquarium in 2014.
Due to it shy nature, animal specialists and activists say that the Beluga wants a spot to cover from spectators. Nevertheless, the glass tank gives no privateness. Guests typically add to the whale’s stress by hitting the glass and shouting to get its consideration.
Lotte Aquarium declined to remark for this story. Final yr, the aquarium’s director testified earlier than lawmakers, stating that they have been in talks with worldwide companions to launch the whale by 2026.
A Beluga whale at Lotte Aquarium / Courtesy of hotpinkdolphins
Chatting with Yonhap Information Company, a Lotte official not too long ago stated the corporate confronted difficulties to find a sanctuary for the whale. A sanctuary that they had been consulting with is at the moment stuffed with Belugas from China. The official added that they’re now exploring sanctuaries in Norway and Canada. Sanctuaries assist whales put together for his or her launch into the wild.
Animal rights activists have been relentlessly calling for the whale’s launch. Choe Jae-chun, a distinguished animal scientist, not too long ago echoed these calls throughout a YouTube speak, saying, “It’s horrible that Lotte has not saved its promise. The Beluga needs to be freed.”
A big problem to the whale’s launch is the transportation to a sanctuary in Norway or Canada, because the lengthy journey may put the whale’s life in danger.
“It’s troublesome however not not possible to move the Beluga whales. We have to set them free,” Joyakgol, a whale activist with the group hotpinkdolphins in Jeju Island, stated.
