Beluga whale “Bella,” who remains confined in a tank at Lotte World Aquarium. In addition to Bella, there were originally two other belugas, “Bello” and “Belly.” Bello died of septicemia in April 2016, and Belly died of the same condition in October 2019. Their deteriorating health was attributed to tinnitus-like symptoms and depression.
Belugas use ultrasound to communicate and perceive their surroundings, but dolphins and whales kept in tanks are constantly exposed to noise reflected off the walls throughout the day. Belugas are intelligent enough to recognize that they have been captured, and experts believe that prolonged confinement in an aquarium environment has caused them severe stress. (Image courtesy of Hotpink Dolphins)
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Efforts to return Bella, a captive beluga whale housed at Lotte World Aquarium, to the wild may no longer be realistically achievable, according to members of an expert advisory panel, deepening one of South Korea’s most contentious animal welfare debates.
At least three of four external members of the aquarium’s release-technology committee told Yonhap News Agency that they reached the conclusion after the panel’s most recent meeting in November, citing insurmountable logistical and environmental obstacles.
The committee was established in 2020 to explore options for releasing Bella either into her native Arctic waters off Russia or to an overseas marine sanctuary.
Both options, advisers said, have effectively stalled.
Plans to return the whale to Russia have been rendered impractical by geopolitical tensions and a lack of cooperation from Russian authorities, which experts say is essential to managing the risks of long-distance transport, including fatal stress during relocation.
Alternative sanctuaries abroad have also proved elusive. A proposed facility in Iceland has remained unresolved for more than six years due to local conditions, while a potential Canadian sanctuary raised concerns about underwater noise, including acoustic interference from nearby orca populations that could severely stress the beluga. The Canadian site has yet to be completed.
Some committee members, including representatives from civic groups, have begun urging Lotte World to acknowledge publicly that release may no longer be possible.
“Clinging to the assumption that release must happen is what has prevented progress,” said Jeon Chae-eun, head of the animal rights group Action for Animals, who serves on the committee. “The original intention announced in 2019 was sincere, but the reality has turned out to be far more complex.”
Despite the growing skepticism among advisers, Lotte World maintains that it has not abandoned its pledge. The company said the panel has not formally concluded that release is impossible and that it continues to explore potential sites while conducting training to help Bella adapt to a natural marine environment.
“Our goal remains to find a safe place where Bella can live,” a Lotte World official said. “The conditions are difficult, but we have never suspended or withdrawn our efforts.”
The issue has gained renewed urgency as 2026 marks the company’s publicly stated target year for completing the release. The controversy has also spilled into the courts and public protests, with animal rights groups accusing Lotte World of delaying action while Bella continues to show signs of stress in captivity.
A beluga whale (Image courtesy of Geoje Sea World)
The debate over Bella’s fate has become emblematic of South Korea’s broader struggle to reconcile public entertainment facilities with evolving expectations around animal welfare — and whether long-promised reforms can survive contact with reality.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
