Intermediate Habitat Bay Construction Update
Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Little Grey and Little White’s welfare will always be our top priority which is why our expert care team has decided to build an intermediate habitat to help bring about a safe and successful transition for the whales from the sea care pools to the main bay. This intermediate habitat will help to create an additional step for both Little Grey and Little White to transition into the bay in their own time, as well as any additional beluga whales who will join them in the future.
After the four months that Little White and Little Grey spent in the sea sanctuary in 2020, the return into their landside facilities was planned to be just for the winter season, but following a series of significant supply chain issues driven by the Coronavirus pandemic, the critical adaptations to the sanctuary won’t be able to be completed this summer (before the beluga whales returned into it) and therefore means they will move back as soon as the works have been completed and the weather is right in spring 2022.
The new intermediate habitat will be a large circular area fixed in place next to the existing sea sanctuary care pools. It will be 160 metres in circumference (2000sqm) and will allow access to the sea floor which will give the whales more access to natural flora and fauna of the bay as they adjust to the more natural surroundings.
The structure will also give the care team closer proximity to Little Grey and Little White during that acclimatisation process, alongside new staff accommodation on site on the pontoons. This will allow the team to closely observe the whales’ behaviour and preferences and help make the adjustment to the new surroundings positive at every step.
Little Grey and Little White continue to do well in their temporary landside care pool and we will continue to care for their welfare needs, as well as getting them ready for their move into the bay as part of the ‘Little Steps’ programme as soon as we can in spring 2022.
Artist rendering of the new intermediate habitat being constructed in the sea sanctuary.
Artist rendering of new staff facilities
Additional artist rendering of new intermediate habitat