A Beluga whale at Lotte Aquarium / Courtesy of hotpinkdolphins

On Oct. 24, 2019, Lotte Aquarium in Seoul announced plans to release a Beluga whale from its water tank within five years. The decision came after the second death of a Beluga at the facility, reportedly caused by depression and tinnitus. The announcement was welcomed by animal rights activists.

However, five years later, the whale is still in the water tank at the aquarium, and the company continues to make a profit through aggressive advertising featuring the whale.

Beluga whales, native to the Arctic, usually dive to depths of 20 meters, with the deepest reaching 500 m. These whales can also travel up to 1,000 kilometers. The aquarium's tank, however, is only 7.5 meters deep and less than 1 kilometer long. The Beluga whale arrived in the aquarium in 2014.

Because of it shy nature, animal experts and activists say that the Beluga needs a place to hide from spectators. However, the glass tank offers no privacy. Visitors often add to the whale's stress by hitting the glass and shouting to get its attention.

Lotte Aquarium declined to comment for this story. Last year, the aquarium's director testified before lawmakers, stating that they were in talks with international partners to release the whale by 2026.

A Beluga whale at Lotte Aquarium / Courtesy of hotpinkdolphins

Speaking to Yonhap News Agency, a Lotte official recently said the company faced difficulties in finding a sanctuary for the whale. A sanctuary they had been consulting with is currently full of Belugas from China. The official added that they are now exploring sanctuaries in Norway and Canada. Sanctuaries help whales prepare for their release into the wild.

Animal rights activists have been relentlessly calling for the whale's release. Choe Jae-chun, a prominent animal scientist, recently echoed these calls during a YouTube talk, saying, "It is terrible that Lotte has not kept its promise. The Beluga should be freed."

A significant challenge to the whale's release is the transportation to a sanctuary in Norway or Canada, as the long journey could put the whale's life at risk.

"It is difficult but not impossible to transport the Beluga whales. We need to set them free," Joyakgol, a whale activist with the group hotpinkdolphins in Jeju Island, said.