Choi Jaecheon Says "Lotte World Bella Is Simply Waiting for the Day She Dies"

"A 7.5-Meter Tank Is Barely More Than a Shallow Dish...Risk of Depression"
Committee Cites "Practical Challenges Such as the Dangers of Long-Distance Transport"

As the debate over the release of 'Bella', the beluga whale at Lotte World Aquarium, reignites, Choi Jaecheon, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Ewha Womans University and an expert in ecology and animal behavior, assessed that "the beluga is simply waiting for the day it dies."

Yonhap News Agency, citing an expert opinion letter obtained on February 14, reported Choi's views. Professor Choi, who served as the founding director of the National Institute of Ecology, is regarded as Korea's leading authority in ecology, having devoted more than a decade to dolphin behavior research.

In his opinion letter, Professor Choi stated, "Although Bella has demonstrated remarkable resilience, by any reasonable standard, it is hard to dispel the thought that she is merely resigned and waiting for death."

Choi Jaecheon, Distinguished Professor at Ewha Womans University. Yonhap News Agency

He argued that belugas are intelligent enough to perceive captivity, raising the possibility that Bella could suffer from depression. He pointed out, "Housing a species that can dive up to 700–800 meters in a 7.5-meter-deep tank is like keeping a whale in a puddle barely deeper than a dish." Professor Choi also suggested that ultrasonic signals reflected inside the tank could cause distress similar to tinnitus in humans.

He interpreted Bella's habit of opening her mouth toward visitors not as a sign of friendliness, but possibly as self-protection or a threatening behavior. While acknowledging the challenges of releasing Bella, Professor Choi urged that if transferring her to Iceland or Norway proves difficult, sending her to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula should also be considered.

On the other hand, the Release Technology Committee, an advisory body of the aquarium, is taking a more cautious stance.

The Committee stated, "Based on domestic and international cases of dolphin releases, we are concerned that transferring an individual that has spent a long time in a tank without sufficient preparation could lead to failure." They added, "We are well aware of the concerns, but instead of rushing, we aim to proceed with caution and prioritize Bella's well-being over a decision made simply for show."

The civic group Hot Pink Dolphins is demanding the prompt release of Bella, arguing that she is exhibiting aggressive and threatening behavior due to the stress of captivity. Lotte World, which announced its intention to release Bella in 2019, stated that it is continuing discussions with sea sanctuaries in places such as Iceland and Canada.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.