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Romania

Dolphin Refugees From Ukraine Delight Romanian Children

At the dolphinarium in the Black Sea port city of Constanta, Romanian and Ukrainian trainers have found common ground in their love for their mammals, who are now refugees from war.

Eva Leontiyeva, a Ukrainian dolphin trainer, performs with two dolphins at the Constanta Dolphinarium in Constanta, Romania, on April 4. The dolphins (Kiki, Maya, Marusia, and Veterok) and sea lions (Aleks, Mary, and Zosya) along with their Ukrainian trainers have found a new home in Romania, where they are once again delighting children.  
1 Eva Leontiyeva, a Ukrainian dolphin trainer, performs with two dolphins at the Constanta Dolphinarium in Constanta, Romania, on April 4.

The dolphins (Kiki, Maya, Marusia, and Veterok) and sea lions (Aleks, Mary, and Zosya) along with their Ukrainian trainers have found a new home in Romania, where they are once again delighting children.
 
Last year, the mammals, along with their trainers and doctors, were forced to abandon their homes in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv following Russian shelling.  
2 Last year, the mammals, along with their trainers and doctors, were forced to abandon their homes in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv following Russian shelling.
 
Despite initial language barriers, the Romanian and Ukrainian trainers found common ground in their love for their mammals. "We get along together very well, we speak the same 'language.' It's the best thing that could happen to our dolphins," one of the trainers said.  
3 Despite initial language barriers, the Romanian and Ukrainian trainers found common ground in their love for their mammals. "We get along together very well, we speak the same 'language.' It's the best thing that could happen to our dolphins," one of the trainers said.
 
Ukrainian dolphin trainer Sonia Chezghanova interacts with two dolphins at their new home.  
4 Ukrainian dolphin trainer Sonia Chezghanova interacts with two dolphins at their new home.
 
Though Romania was able to take in what they could, other mammals such as Zeus and Beauty and their trainers (pictured in September 2022) remain at the park, which has been damaged by Russian shelling.
5 Though Romania was able to take in what they could, other mammals such as Zeus and Beauty and their trainers (pictured in September 2022) remain at the park, which has been damaged by Russian shelling.
Entomologist Yuriy Voytenko, 67, plays with Zeus through an underwater viewing window fortified with sand bags. 
6 Entomologist Yuriy Voytenko, 67, plays with Zeus through an underwater viewing window fortified with sand bags. 
Trainer Volodyslav Lytnevskiy pats a beluga whale named Plombieres. Due to their size, the two remaining beluga whales are unable to be evacuated from the park.  
7 Trainer Volodyslav Lytnevskiy pats a beluga whale named Plombieres. Due to their size, the two remaining beluga whales are unable to be evacuated from the park.
 
Trainer Viktoria Litnevska kisses Zeus.
8 Trainer Viktoria Litnevska kisses Zeus.
A baby dolphin named Dream plays with a ball. According to the park's trainers, the three remaining dolphins haven't been evacuated due to their young age. Russian shelling continues to maim and kill residents of Kharkiv.  
9 A baby dolphin named Dream plays with a ball. According to the park's trainers, the three remaining dolphins haven't been evacuated due to their young age.

Russian shelling continues to maim and kill residents of Kharkiv.

 
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