Whales to make epic journey from China to world's first sanctuary

Iker Wang, head trainer at Chengfeng Ocean World in Shanghai, said people there have mixed feelings about the whales leaving.

“We’ll be sad to see them leave but we understand they come from nature, so this project is allowing them to go back home,” Wang said. “We all feel happy for Little Grey and Little White and I’m proud to be involved in what is an unprecedented global project.”

The people behind the sanctuary hope it will inspire other facilities to release captive whales and dolphins into more natural environments and help end whale and dolphin performances.

More than 3,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises are held in captivity around the world.