"We have two beluga whales": How to rescue animals weighing over a ton from the front lines in Ukraine

Wednesday, Nov 26, 2025

El Confidencial

Rescue efforts moved numerous animals from war-torn Ukraine to safe havens across Europe amid conflict.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

In January 2024, the owner of Járkov’s NEMO Aquarium urgently contacted Oceanogràfic Valencia to request help for two belugas, Miranda and Plombir, as they were the only European aquarium with suitable facilities. The rescue was complicated by the proximity of Russian troops to the dolphinarium, causing stress on the cetaceans due to explosions. Due to the closed Ukrainian airspace, the evacuation required a long road journey through Moldova before flying from there to Valencia. This complex operation involved veterinary checks and coordination between several international organizations. Separately, numerous other animals have been evacuated from conflict zones in Ukraine; over 1,000 animals were moved in 2022, with more than 600 wild animals housed at the Kyiv Zoo, while other rescues included bears in Romania, tigers and lions in various European locations, and dogs and cats from Odessa to Germany.

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