Little Gray and Little White are the names of two beluga whales that have lived for more than 10 years at the Chengfeng Aquarium in Shanghai. After a protracted effort by British conservationists, they were brought to a special reserve for marine mammals in Klettsvik Bay, Iceland. Photo: PA.
 |
| Because they are used to captivity, Tieu Khoi and Tieu Bach cannot survive in the ocean, so a special marine reserve is the most suitable place for them. These two belugas are said to have been caught in the sub-arctic waters of Russia when they were 2 years old. Photo: China Daily. |
 |
| They were shipped to Iceland last year, but it took time to prepare before being released into Klettsvik Bay. Two belugas are trained by experts to hold their breath longer, allowing them to dive deeper and stay underwater longer. They are also trained to develop the muscles needed to swim in currents or tidal conditions. Photo: PA. |
 |
| The two beluga whales also had time to get used to the cold water before being released into the bay. This species mainly inhabits the cold seas around the Arctic. In the wild, they usually live for 40 to 60 years. Photo: PA. |
 |
| In June 2019, they had to go through a journey of more than 30 hours by land and air from Shanghai to Iceland. After nearly a year of being acquainted and trained in the intensive care facility, now Tieu Khoi and Tieu Bach are released into the sea for the first time in more than a decade. Photo: PA. |
 |
| The Sea Life Trust, the organization behind the campaign, says the reserve at Klettsvik Bay, the world’s first nature reserve for marine mammals, will “provide a wider and more natural habitat for the beluga whales”. The reserve covers an area of 32,000 m2, with an average depth of 10 m and is separated from the bay by nets. Photo: PA. |
 |
| The staff said the two belugas are now eating well and communicating with them – a positive sign. Tieu Khoi – the more aggressive animal – even went around to explore the reserve, while Tieu Bach was still a bit reserved. Photo: PA. |
 |
| The two fish will be continuously monitored for their health to make sure they are adapting well to their new environment. It is expected that if Tieu Khoi and Tieu Bach have no problems, another 8 to 10 beluga whales will be brought to the reserve on Klettsvik Bay in the future. There are still more than 300 individuals of this species in captivity around the |
