Russian attacks on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv have necessitated a major evacuation operation. To protect themselves, two beluga whales from an aquarium in the embattled metropolis were sent on a ‘grueling journey’ to the Spanish city of Valencia.
The whales were initially transported overland from Kharkov in northeastern Ukraine to the port of Odessa in the south of the country. After this dangerous twelve-hour journey through the war zone, they were then taken across the border to the Moldovan capital Chisinau.
EU help
There, the Ukrainian caretakers met the international team from Oceanogràfic, Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld, who quickly carried out health checks and continued the journey to the Moldovan border, where the European Anti-Fraud Office, part of the European Commission, played a crucial role. in facilitating the acceleration of border crossing.
“Risky and complex”
From Chisinau, the belugas and their rescue team were flown by chartered plane to the Spanish port city of Valencia, where they arrived on Wednesday. The rescue operation, which also involved experts from the US, was “highly risky and complex” and required multinational cooperation, the Oceanogràfic Aquarium said in a statement.
“The belugas are in suboptimal physical condition to undertake such a journey, but if they had remained in Kharkov, their chances of survival would have been very slim,” said Daniel Garcia-Parraga, head of the aquarium’s zoological department. The war created shortages of food, energy and medicine, as well as limited access to technical resources needed for such a rescue.
Informal caregivers help with the adjustment
Two Ukrainian keepers will stay with the whales in Valencia for a number of weeks to help them acclimatize. “This courageous rescue is a historic milestone for animal protection worldwide,” said Carlos Mazón, head of the Valencia regional government.
The Russian army has intensified its artillery attacks on Kharkiv in recent weeks. Projectiles also hit near the Nemo dolphinarium where the two whales were housed. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, the Kharkov aquarium has already evacuated several seals, sea lions and dolphins. Due to their size, the transport of the two beluga whales required months of preparation.
Source: Krone
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