Beluga whales enjoy first swim in sanctuary after being rescued from China

Heartwarming new footage shows the moment a couple of Beluga whales took their first swim in a sanctuary in Iceland after being rescued from China, where they were forced to perform tricks in exchange for fish.

Taken in the Klettsvik Bay off the coast of Iceland, the sweet video shows the whales, named Little White and Little Grey, swimming freely and happily in their new home.

Check out the video below:

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Touching on the Beluga whales' newfound freedom, SEA LIFE Trust head Andy Bool said in a statement: "We're absolutely thrilled by the progress that Little Grey and Little White have made since moving to their bayside care pools."

He continued:

"They are feeding and acclimatizing well to the more natural surroundings as well as all of the outdoor elements. We are introducing them gradually to the bay in little steps, but seeing them swim together and deep dive amongst the flora and fauna of the wider bay for the first time was amazing to witness and gave us a real sense that Little Grey and Little White are enjoying being back in the sea."

Little Grey and Little White, both female, were previously in Shanghai's Ocean World, where they lived for the best part of a decade. While they were there, the mammals were forced to perform for audiences.

In order to retrieve the whales from the aquarium and in order to ship them hundreds of miles away from the Ocean World, the whales had to be placed into protective slings. The journey was touch and go, as they were then placed in a lorry, before being transferred to a Boeing 747-400ERF cargo aircraft and then a harbor tugboat.

Cathy Williamson, Whale and Dolphin Conservation's End Captivity program lead said in a statement:

"We're delighted that Little Grey and Little White are now exploring the wider bay and adapting well to their new, natural, stimulating environment. As well as providing an exciting home for Little Grey and Little White, we look forward to welcoming other belugas here and encouraging the development of sanctuaries in other parts of the world.

"We hope this will mean that many of the more than 3,500 whales and dolphins held in captivity for shows and swim with attractions can be brought to sanctuaries to live more natural lives or be rehabilitated for a return to the wild."