The beluga whales have safely arrived in Iceland.

- Cargolux successfully transported "Little Grey" and "Little White" to Iceland, en route to the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary.

SEA LIFE TRUST and Cargolux are pleased to confirm that the two beluga whales — Little Grey and Little White — have safely arrived in Iceland from Shanghai, China, after a flight of over 9,000 kilometers.

Under the care of Cargolux, Little Grey and Little White are in good health after their journey and will continue on to their new home, the world’s first open-water beluga whale sanctuary.

Due to weather conditions in Iceland in April, the relocation of the two beluga whales has been postponed to June.

This project represents the most significant breakthrough in captive whale and dolphin conservation in decades and is the first sanctuary specifically designed for large cetaceans, making a major contribution to whale and dolphin protection efforts.

After traveling over 9,000 kilometers, the two belugas have landed safely in Iceland. They will now complete the final leg of their move by truck and ferry to the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary.

Little White and Little Grey arrive safely at Keflavík International Airport, Iceland via Cargolux.

The Marine Life Foundation confirmed today that Little Grey and Little White have successfully arrived at Keflavík Airport (Iceland’s international airport), completing an extraordinary journey. The flight, sponsored by Cargolux, landed in the afternoon local time. The two beluga whales will now continue to Heimaey, one of the Westman Islands located south of Iceland, to complete the relocation process.

The new home of Little White and Little Grey – the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary.

The two beluga whales were carefully lifted onto custom-made stretchers and placed into specially designed transport containers.

They were then transported by truck from Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and flown to Keflavík Airport in Iceland on a plane bearing the Cargolux logo. The entire process went smoothly, with the flight departing Shanghai in the morning local time.

To ensure a smooth journey, Cargolux arranged for a professional care team to accompany and monitor the whales throughout the flight to ensure their well-being and stable condition. Experts from around the world, including engineers from Cargolux, specialists with experience in marine mammal transport, and overseas veterinary teams, worked together to safeguard their trip. Little Grey and Little White had a safe and smooth journey under the constant care of the team.

Andy Bool, CEO of the Marine Life Foundation, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Little Grey and Little White have arrived safely in Iceland. We have spent many months preparing for their journey to their new home, and this is an incredibly exciting project.”

“We will continue to closely monitor the health of both whales. Throughout the process, we’ve been monitoring their overall condition, and the results have been very reassuring. This project has been made possible thanks to the hard work of many people, and we are deeply grateful for everyone’s efforts. We’re pleased to see the relocation progressing smoothly as planned.”

Upon the whales’ arrival, their Boeing 747-400ERF cargo plane was greeted with a water cannon salute on the tarmac, with two fire trucks creating a celebratory water arch above the aircraft to mark the safe arrival of Iceland’s newest residents.

Currently, Little Grey and Little White will be transported by truck to a ferry terminal, then taken by ferry to Heimaey on the southern coast of Iceland. Once on the island, they will be placed in holding pools for observation and rest until they are ready to enter their open-water home.

Richard Forson, President and CEO of Cargolux, added: “We are very happy that Little Grey and Little White enjoyed a comfortable and smooth journey on our aircraft. The success of this mission is the result of the close cooperation of all our teams, whose dedication made it all possible.”

“This relocation required complex logistical arrangements, and we’re proud to have been part of it. We hope Little Grey and Little White adapt quickly to their new environment, and that their story will serve as an example for the protection of other cetaceans.”

Preparations for Little White and Little Grey disembarking

The Marine Life Foundation Beluga Sanctuary, developed jointly by the Global Marine Wildlife Charity and the International Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), is the largest and first sanctuary ever created specifically for captive whales and dolphins in decades.

Cathy Williamson, Policy Manager for the WDC project, summarized: “As someone who has been involved in discussions about establishing a sanctuary for over 20 years and has supported the project from the beginning, the WDC is delighted to welcome Little Grey and Little White to Iceland.”

“The creation of the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary marks the end of keeping whales and dolphins in captivity for entertainment. We are proud to be a partner in this important project, which will improve the future lives of beluga whales and show the world another way to care for them.”

As a groundbreaking global marine welfare project, this protected bay will become the world’s first open-water beluga whale sanctuary. Covering an area of 32,000 square meters with a maximum depth of 10 meters, it will provide the beluga whales with a more natural subarctic living environment and habitat.