Bella, a beluga whale confined to a small tank in Seoul for a decade, has become the focal point of a growing campaign demanding her release. The whale’s plight has spurred activists to call for an end to her unethical confinement and the closure of the exhibit.
Life in confinement
Bella resides in a 1,224-tonne tank located within Lotte World Tower, the world’s sixth-tallest skyscraper. Surrounded by bustling luxury shops, her isolated existence in the lifeless tank has drawn significant attention and concern from animal rights groups. An international petition has been launched, demanding her liberation.
“Almost five years have passed since they said they would release her,” said Jo Yak-gol of the marine environmentalist group Hot Pink Dolphins, referring to the Lotte Group, which owns the aquarium.
Bella’s journey
Captured in the Arctic Ocean off the Russian coast in 2013 at the age of two, Bella was sold to the aquarium alongside two male belugas, Bello and Belli. Tragically, Bello died prematurely in 2016 at the age of five, followed by Belli in 2019 at the age of 12. In the wild, belugas typically live between 35 to 50 years.
Public outcry following these deaths led Lotte to pledge Bella’s release, a promise reiterated in 2021. However, these efforts have repeatedly stalled, often attributed to obstacles such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and are perceived as mere token gestures.
Currently, Bella exhibits signs of distress, alternating between aimless spinning and floating motionlessly in her small tank. Belugas, which can grow up to 18 feet long, find the 7-meter-deep tank insufficient. “She lacks stimulation and is showing signs of a mental illness,” Jo said.
Expert opinions
Dr. Valeria Vergara, co-director of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s cetacean research program, emphasized the intelligence and social nature of belugas. “They cooperate to the point of helping raise each other’s young,” Vergara explained. “Keeping such beings in captivity is simply unethical.”
Bella is one of five captive belugas in South Korea, including one at Aqua Planet Yeosu and three others at Geoje Sea World, where recent bans have prohibited visitor interactions with the whales.
Bella remains in her tank amid bureaucratic delays
In December, South Korea banned the purchase of whales and dolphins for display. However, this law is not retroactive, allowing animals already in captivity, like Bella, to remain.
Vergara insists that transferring Bella to a seaside sanctuary is “the only ethical option.” Having been removed from her natural habitat at such a young age, Bella lacks the necessary skills to survive in the open ocean.
Lotte World Aquarium stated that it is committed to animal rights and is ready to send Bella to a sanctuary. The company is in discussions with a committee of the Oceans and Fisheries Ministry, animal rights groups, and whale experts to develop a scientific and practical plan for Bella’s release. Potential sanctuary locations include Iceland, Norway, and Canada.
Despite these efforts, Bella remains in her tank amid bureaucratic delays and ongoing discussions. Outside Lotte World Tower, the Hot Pink Dolphins group continues to protest, demanding: “Free Bella now!”