'Bella,' the Last of Three Belugas... Transfer to Release Adaptation Center by End of Next Year
Originally Scheduled for Transfer This Year, Delayed Due to COVID-19 and Other Issues
"Release Depends on Belugas Thriving in the Wild... Beluga Happiness Is the Most Important"
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Park] 'Bella,' the beluga whale at Lotte World Aquarium, is scheduled to be transferred to a release adaptation facility (sanctuary) by the end of next year. However, the final schedule for wild release remains undecided.
On the 5th, Lotte World Aquarium held a press conference at the Lotte World Well-being Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to disclose the current status and future plans for the beluga release.
Attending the event were release technical committee members including △Jung Jang-rak, Director of Lotte World Aquarium △Jang Yu-kyung, Officer of Marine Ecology Division, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries △Son Ho-seon, Ph.D. at the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries △Uh Kyung-yeon, Professor at Semyung University College of Health and Bio Sciences △Jo Hee-kyung, Representative of Animal Freedom Coalition △Jeon Chae-eun, Representative of Action for Animals.
The natural release process for the beluga consists of seven stages: △health assessment △release site suitability evaluation △wild adaptation training △transfer to release adaptation facility △local adaptation at release site △release suitability judgment △final wild release. Currently, Bella is a 9-year-old female undergoing health assessment, release site suitability evaluation, and wild adaptation training.
The aquarium stated that they are focusing on health management for Bella, who must survive in the wild environment. Jeong Ji-yoon, head of the Aquarium's Biological Conservation Team, emphasized, "The prerequisite for release is that the beluga must be able to live well in the wild. Bella's happiness is the most important." According to the explanation, Bella's health is in good condition.
Director Ko Jeong-rak of Lotte World Aquarium answering questions during the press conference related to the release of belugas held on the 5th. Photo by Lotte World Aquarium
A similar release case is 'Jedor-i,' a southern bottlenose dolphin that was at Seoul Grand Park. After the release decision in March 2012, Jedor-i was finally released into the sea off Hamdeok, Jeju, in July 2013.
Regarding criticism that Bella's release progress is slower compared to Jedor-i, which took about 1 year and 4 months, Team Leader Jeong explained, "While southern bottlenose dolphins had conspecifics living in the Jeju sea, belugas are Arctic-dwelling individuals, so thorough safety reviews are necessary."
In fact, a beluga at Merlin Sea Life in the UK took about four years from the release decision in 2016 to being released to a sea sanctuary located on Heimaey Island, Iceland, in 2020. This beluga is currently managed after being transferred to the sea sanctuary.
Jung Jang-rak, Director of Lotte World Aquarium, emphasized, "Since the ultimate goal is Bella's wild release, it is important to minimize contact with humans wherever she goes."
In response to a question about whether continued exhibition of Bella in the aquarium, which would increase human contact, might delay the release, Director Jung replied, "The final success of the release is more important than the release period. The period for studying her personality and habits has been extended to prevent failure. Considering Bella's habits, keeping her in the exhibition hall increases the chances of release success." This answer implies a cautious decision to extend the release period and endure some discomfort for the beluga rather than attempting a premature release.
Meanwhile, the aquarium revealed that they have been reviewing various domestic and international wild adaptation candidate sites for Bella's safe release. In January last year, they visited overseas sanctuaries with the release technical committee to conduct release site suitability evaluations and continue inspections and reviews of candidate wild adaptation sites both domestically and abroad. Current release candidate sites include △Iceland △Russian waters △Canada △East Sea in Korea.
Jo Hee-kyung, a representative of the Release Technical Committee, evaluated the sanctuary located on Heimaey Island, Iceland, saying, "Although it is an indoor aquarium, it is larger than the tank where Bella currently is and provides an environment where wild adaptation training can be conducted simultaneously. Also, it allows more specialized management of the individuals scheduled for release."
Finally, Director Jung said, "The aquarium has made many efforts, especially for the conservation of marine ecosystem species. Many research results have come out during this process. We have never hesitated in the beluga release and have done our best. We promise to continue doing our best so that the beluga can live healthily in the wild."
Meanwhile, Lotte World Aquarium, which opened in October 2014, imported and exhibited three belugas at the time of opening. After three years of exhibition, Bello (then 5 years old) died in April 2016, followed by Belly (then 12 years old) in October 2019, leading to repeated demands from animal protection groups for the release of the belugas. Both individuals died of sepsis, and the average lifespan of belugas in the wild is known to be 30 to 35 years.
Facing strong criticism, on October 24, 2019, the aquarium announced that they would release Bella, the only remaining individual of the three. However, animal protection groups continue to criticize the fact that Bella has not been released and remains on display for two years to date.
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