The belugas — a 15-year-old male named Plombir and a 14-year-old female named Miranda — arrived in Valencia on June 18
A dedicated rescue team recently completed the daring task of moving two beluga whales from Ukraine to Spain despite the ongoing war.
On June 17 and 18, a group of marine mammal experts from Oceanogràfic de Valencia, Georgia Aquarium, and SeaWorld joined Ukraine’s NEMO Dolphinarium to save the belugas, a 15-year-old male named Plombir and a 14-year-old female named Miranda, from the war-torn city of Kharkiv. According to a news release, they endured a “grueling journey across the war zone” and arrived in Valencia, Spain, on June 18 in “delicate health.”
This high-risk and complex operation faced numerous challenges, relying on the collaboration of multiple countries and organizations.
Oceanogràfic Valencia, Europe’s largest aquarium and the closest marine conservation center to Ukraine, highlighted the dangers of the mission. Bombs had dropped perilously close to the aquarium, and Kharkiv faced an increasing artillery threat.
Months of meticulous planning were needed due to the belugas’ size and specific needs. Previous missions had already evacuated seals, sea lions, and dolphins from the NEMO Dolphinarium since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The evacuation began with a hazardous 12-hour drive from Kharkiv to Odesa. From there, the Ukrainian caregivers met the international rescue team, who quickly performed health checks before continuing to the Moldova border. Crucially, the European Anti-Fraud Office expedited the border crossing process.
After the arduous drive, a chartered six-seater plane transported the rescue team and belugas to Valencia, where Raúl Mérida, general director of the Natural and Animal Environment of Valencia, greeted them at the airport.
Carlos Mazón, president of the Valencia region Generalitat Valenciana, praised the operation as a historic milestone in animal protection, noting the honor of rescuing these belugas from the horrors of war.
Dr. Daniel Garcia-Párraga, director of zoological operations at Oceanogràfic, explained that the war had caused shortages of food, energy, and medicine, making it difficult to care for the animals. He emphasized that while the belugas’ health was not ideal for such a journey, staying in Kharkiv would have meant almost certain death for them.
Dennis Christen, senior director of animal well-being and behavior at Georgia Aquarium, said the complexity of the evacuation involved weeks of preparation. He expressed his pride and humility in being trusted to care for the belugas and protect them during their journey.
Christen also acknowledged the emotional difficulty for the Ukrainian caregivers and the people of Kharkiv who had to say goodbye to Plombir and Miranda, but noted that it was ultimately in their best interest.
Since their arrival in Valencia, the belugas have received care from a specialized team of medical, nutritional, and behavioral experts at Oceanogràfic to help them recover from their traumatic experiences. Ukrainian caregivers will also stay with them for the first few weeks to ease the transition.
Dr. Garcia-Párraga confirmed that the belugas are being kept in separate areas inaccessible to the public while they recover and acclimate. The public will receive updates on the whales’ health and well-being as the situation progresses. He expressed deep gratitude for everyone who played a role in this successful and complex operation.
