Oceanografic de Valencia, Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld
collaborate with Ukraine's NEMO
Dolphinarium on heroic evacuation from Kharkiv
VALENCIA, Spain, June 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marine mammal care specialists
from Oceanogràfic de Valencia,
Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld assisted the NEMO Dolphinarium in
Ukraine on June 17-18 with a heroic rescue of two beluga
whales from the war-ravaged region of Kharkiv. The city is facing
increasing threat from artillery fire, which has intensified in
recent weeks, with bombs dropping within a few hundred meters of
the aquarium.
The high-risk, complex rescue operation presented numerous
challenges and required multi-national collaboration. The belugas,
a 15-year-old male named Plombir and a 14-year-old female named
Miranda, arrived in Valencia
in delicate health on the evening of June
18, following a grueling journey across the war zone. Their
evacuation included a dangerous 12-hour drive from Kharkiv to
Odesa. From there the Ukrainian caregivers met the international
team from Oceanogràfic, Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld who quickly
conducted health checks and continued onward to Moldova border where the European
Anti-Fraud Office, part of the European Commission,
served a crucial role in speeding up the border crossing. A
six-seater chartered plane awaited the rescue team in Chisinau to fly onward to Valencia where the General Director of Natural
and Animal Environment of Valencia, Raúl Mérida, met the rescue team at
the Valencia airport.
The president of the Valencia
region Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, said, "This courageous
rescue constitutes a historic milestone worldwide in terms of
animal protection. It is an honor that the Oceanogràfic has rescued
these two belugas from the horror of the war in Ukraine. They have experienced a difficult
situation in recent months, and the experts at Oceanogràfic will be
working intensely to help them recover."
Oceanogràfic Valencia is the
largest aquarium in Europe and the
only one on the continent that has belugas in its facilities. In
addition, it is the closest marine conservation center to
Ukraine and is accredited by the
most rigorous international organizations in animal welfare.
"The war has caused food, energy and medicine shortages,
reducing access to other basic necessities for animal care as
well as technical supplies necessary for the logistics of such a
sensitive rescue," said Dr. Daniel Garcia-Párraga, director of
zoological operations at Oceanografic. "The belugas have a
suboptimal body condition to undertake this type of trip, but if
they had continued in Kharkiv, their chances of survival would have
been very slim."
Since the war began in 2022, the dolphinarium has been bravely
evacuating animals, including seals, sea lions and dolphins, as
quickly as it could, but moving belugas is an extremely complex
logistical operation due to their size and specific needs. It
required months of preparations and the participation of
international experts.
"It is yet another example of how accredited aquariums and zoos
respond when animals are in danger bringing the specialized
expertise and trusted skills developed by caring for
wildlife every day," said Dan
Ashe, President and CEO of the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (AZA). "It's not just what we do. It's who we are.
I applaud AZA members Oceanografic, Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld,
for convening the world's most elite team of marine mammal experts
to work with the Ukrainian aquarium on what is likely the most
complex marine mammal rescue ever undertaken."
"The complexities of this evacuation were immense, and we have
been working for weeks to prepare for it. I'm humbled to have been
trusted to provide the belugas care and protection during their
long journey to their new home. My heart is with the Ukrainian
caregivers and the people of Kharkiv who had to say goodbye to
Miranda and Plombir. It's not an easy thing to do, but it was best
for them. I'm proud to have played a role in helping them," said
Dennis Christen, senior director of
animal wellbeing & behavior, Georgia Aquarium.
"The belugas' health and safety was our top priority, and these
were challenging conditions, including rough roads, rising
temperatures and the inherent risks of being in an active war
zone," said Keith Yip, Animal Care
Specialist, SeaWorld. "The Ukrainian caregivers were very brave,
and the whole team involved did everything possible to provide the
belugas comfort and safety during the evacuation to Valencia. I'm proud to have been able to share
the specialized expertise needed to support the complex logistics
for this collaborative rescue operation."
The belugas are being provided with a specialized team of
medical, nutritional and behavioral experts at Oceanografic to
assist in recovery from the traumas they have endured. Two
Ukrainian caregivers are staying with them for the first couple
weeks to help with their transition and care.
"The belugas are being cared for in separate areas that are not
accessible or viewable by the public while they undergo recovery
and acclimation," said Garcia. "We will be providing updates on
their health and well-being as things evolve. We are extremely
grateful to everyone who assisted in this rescue."
To learn more about Oceanografic, click here.
ABOUT OCEANOGRAFIC
Oceanogràfic de València, integrated into the architectural
complex of the City of Arts and Sciences, has been the largest
aquarium in Europe since it opened
its doors in 2003 and has become an outstanding marine conservation
center. It is accredited by the world reference body in terms of
animal welfare, the American Humane Association (AHA) and is part
of the most prestigious international zoological associations, such
as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the European
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), the European Association
for Marine Mammals (EAAM) and the Iberian Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (AIZA).
Through Fundación Oceanogràfic, the Valencia aquarium has promoted research,
conservation and dissemination with the aim of raising awareness to
change behaviors that benefit the sustainability and ecology of the
Planet.
ABOUT GEORGIA
AQUARIUM
Georgia Aquarium is a leading 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
located in Atlanta, Ga. that is Humane Certified by American Humane
and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums
and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Georgia Aquarium is
committed to working on behalf of all marine life through
education, preservation, exceptional animal care, and research
across the globe. Georgia Aquarium continues its mission each day
to inspire, educate, and entertain its millions of guests about the
aquatic biodiversity throughout the world through its engaging
exhibits and tens of thousands of animals across its eight major
galleries.
ABOUT SEAWORLD
SeaWorld is a leading marine life theme park and accredited zoo
and aquarium that provides experiences that matter while educating
and inspiring guests of all ages to care about marine life.
Welcoming millions of guests every year, the parks offer fun and
enriching experiences from up-close animal encounters and
year-round educational programs to award-winning marine-life themed
rides and attractions, special events and exciting entertainment.
For more than 60 years SeaWorld has advanced the conservation of
marine life in and outside its parks through science, education,
and exceptional animal care that is Humane Certified by American
Humane and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and
Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SeaWorld is
one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world,
helping more than 41,000 animals to date. The SeaWorld Conservation
Fund, a non-profit foundation established in 2003, has provided
more than $20 million to nearly 1,400
organizations to advance critical research on every continent. A
portion of park proceeds goes toward supporting these longstanding
conservation commitments. SeaWorld parks are in Orlando, San
Antonio, San Diego and
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
(UAE). SeaWorld is part of the United Parks & Resorts (NYSE:
PRKS) portfolio of theme park brands. For more information, visit
us at SeaWorld.com.
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SOURCE Georgia Aquarium