It was a whale of an evacuation.
As Russian aerial bombardments of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, have intensified, the evacuation of Plombir, a 15-year-old male, and Miranda, a 14-year-old female, came just in time, marine mammal experts said.
“If they had continued in Kharkiv, their chances of survival would have been very slim,” said Daniel Garcia-Párraga, director of zoological operations at Oceanogràfic de Valencia, who helped lead the rescue.
Belugas, whose natural habitat is the Arctic, need cold water to survive.
The devastation of the power grid in Kharkiv meant that the aquarium there had to rely on generator power, making it challenging to keep the waters cooled.
Persons:
Miranda, ”, Daniel Garcia, Párraga, Oceanogràfic de Valencia
Organizations:
Oceanogràfic de
Locations:
Kharkiv, Ukraine, Valencia, Spain, Russian, Ukraine’s, Plombir