Why Can’t Bella the White Whale Go Home?···They Said “Release in 2026” [Explaining Kyunghyang] - 경향신문

This article was translated by an AI tool. Feedback Here.

Activists from animal groups such as Animal Rights Action Kara and Hot Pink Dolphins hold a press conference on October 24, 2023, in front of Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul, urging the release of the remaining beluga ‘Bella’ from the aquarium. Kyunghyang Shinmun file photo

“We are discussing with overseas companies the idea of attempting release by 2026, but variables may arise depending on circumstances.”

Do you know the beluga whale, called the ‘angel of the sea’ for its white skin and endearing smile? A protracted debate continues over the release of Bella, a beluga living at Lotte World Aquarium in Seoul. Former director Ko Jeong-rak said he would aim to release her by 2026, but Bella’s path remains distant.

Previously, in 2019, after the belugas on display at Lotte World died in succession, the company pledged to release Bella. Will Bella leave the aquarium this year and head back to her home in the ocean?

Since its opening in October 2014, Lotte World Aquarium exhibited three belugas captured in the Russian Arctic and brought to Korea: Bello, Belli, and Bella. The youngest, Bello (estimated age 5), died of sepsis in April 2016, followed by Belli (estimated age 12) in October 2019 of the same illness.

After two died, Lotte World announced in 2019 that it would release Bella into the wild. In 2020, Lotte formed the Lotte World Aquarium Release Technical Committee comprising experts and civic groups, and in 2021 announced it would transfer Bella to a sanctuary (a zone created to protect animals in urgent or painful environments or animals for whom returning to the wild is difficult).

However, roughly six years after Lotte declared a natural release, the promise remains unfulfilled and only debates persist. Some external members of the Release Technical Committee have expressed the view that releasing Bella would be realistically difficult. The committee has discussed returning Bella to her native Russian Arctic waters or transferring her to an overseas sanctuary.

First, the members converged on the opinion that returning Bella to her home waters in Russia would be difficult, because she was captured when young and has spent over 10 years in an aquarium, making life in the wild challenging. It is also unclear whether the Russian government would cooperate appropriately with a natural release and subsequent monitoring.

Activists from animal rights groups including Animal Rights Action Kara and Hot Pink Dolphins hold a press conference on October 24, 2023, in front of Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul, urging the release of the remaining beluga ‘Bella’ from the aquarium. Kyunghyang Shinmun file photo

The committee is seriously considering release to another overseas sanctuary, but some members believe sending her to sanctuaries in Iceland or Canada has run into practical limits. In Iceland, there is insufficient space to accommodate Bella, and the Canadian sanctuary is still not complete. Some have argued for a realistic third option, such as housing her together with Ruby, a beluga living alone at Aqua Planet Yeosu.

In response, the marine environmental group Hot Pink Dolphins issued a statement last month arguing that a sanctuary for belugas should be created in Japanese or domestic waters and the animals released there. They added that beluga expert Dr. Ingrid Visser visited Korea and advised that releasing along the East Sea coast of the Korean Peninsula could be the most realistic option. They also noted that Lotte Holdings, a Japanese company, is the largest shareholder of Hotel Lotte, which operates the aquarium, and said it would not be impossible for Hotel Lotte to build a sea refuge for belugas in Hokkaido, Japan, leveraging its corporate infrastructure.

However, animal groups are divided over creating a domestic sanctuary. Jeon Chae-eun, head of Action for Animals and a member of the Release Technical Committee, said, “The East Sea’s water temperature is not suitable for belugas to live in, and in Korea it is extremely difficult to find areas outside fishers’ fishing rights, among other practical limits.”

Lotte World says it continues efforts, such as contacting overseas sanctuaries, and that the goal of release within the year remains in effect. A Lotte World official said, “We are continuing discussions with the Iceland sanctuary and signed a letter of intent for cooperation with an organization related to the Canadian sanctuary in 2024,” adding, “If any facility can secure an environment and safety for belugas, Lotte is ready to send her at any time.”

Hot Pink Dolphins holds a press conference in front of Seoul Eastern District Court in Songpa-gu on the 13th of last month, when the first appellate hearing in the ‘Action Urging Liberation of Lotte’s White Whale Bella’ case was held. Lee Jun-heon, Reporter

Meanwhile, last month’s court ruling drew attention. The court stated, “If it is 2026 and Lotte World Aquarium is still ‘peddling Bella,’ that would be, as a matter of common sense, outrageous.” This remark was made during the appellate trial of Hwang Hyun-jin, head of Hot Pink Dolphins, who in 2022 damaged a large aquarium tank by attaching a banner calling for Bella’s release.

In response to the court’s use of ‘outrageous,’ Lotte said, “We are maintaining the current status in order to support the growth of a social beluga, in line with the Release Technical Committee’s advice,” adding, “At present, Lotte World Aquarium is not using the beluga for any commercial purpose such as promotion or merchandise sales.”

However, Choi Jae-chun, emeritus professor in the EcoScience Department at Ewha Womans University, recently criticized, saying, “Lotte’s promise to make its best efforts has now proven to be nothing but an excuse.” In an expert opinion submitted to the appellate panel by Hot Pink Dolphins on the 13th, Professor Choi said, “Bella is displaying remarkable resilience, but I cannot shake the feeling that she is simply awaiting her appointed day to die,” and urged, “Isolate Bella from visitors, allow her to live in a large, comfortable tank, make negotiations with overseas facilities that can assist with release transparent, and begin the release process within this year.”

Lotte has postponed release three times since 2019, citing COVID-19 lockdowns and circumstances on the Iceland sanctuary’s side. Experts also say a conclusion should be reached “this year.” CEO Jeon Chae-eun said, “If it is delayed further, she will age and find it harder to adapt to a new environment, so we cannot wait indefinitely.” Co-representative Jo Yak-gol of Hot Pink Dolphins also said, “Lotte’s determination is most important.” Lotte, which had spoken of a “2026 release target,” will it make a decision this time? Will Bella be able to leave the narrow aquarium and live in the vast ocean this year?