Two beluga whales have struggled to contain their excitement as they were transported from a Chinese aquarium to a new open-water refuge.

Little Grey and Little White have been at Ocean World in Shanghai for nearly a decade where they were forced to perform tricks and shows to audiences in exchange for fish. Before that, they were at a Russian research centre.

After years away from the sea, they’ve been rescued by UK-based charity Sea Life Trust, who have shipped them around 6,000 miles away to Iceland. The two whales will be able to swim in the open ocean for the first time in years.


They’ll first go to a refuge in Klettsvik Bay off the south coast of Iceland, before they’re released into the massive sanctuary.