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A Chinese aquarium has apologised after a zoo keeper was filmed putting lipstick on a beluga whale to make it look ‘prettier’.

The female trainer in question, whose identity has not been revealed, also appeared to kiss the animal and ride on its back in clips posted to Chinese social media.

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People were enraged by the footage, which was posted on Saturday.

One asked: ‘Is it safe to put lipstick on a whale? Has she thought about that before putting it on?’


While another said: ‘I can’t believe people can do such things to make themselves popular.

‘There are many ways to get more followers and likes, but please don’t harm the beluga whale.’

The aquarium has apologised for the footage (Picture: AsiaWire)

The footage was taken at the Sun Asia Ocean World in the coastal city of Dalian in north-eastern China’s Liaoning Province.



It is reported that the trainer said the whale was getting ‘prettier and prettier’ as she applied the make-up.

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The aquarium has since apologised to the public for the incident.

In a statement, it said: ‘We express our sincere apology to all the friends who like Sun Asia Ocean World.’

The Asia branch of PETA slammed the marine park, and said: ‘Are the ocean’s smiling angels now clowns?

‘A Sun Asia Ocean World trainer is putting lipstick on a beluga whale and posting videos on Douyin.

‘Lipstick contains substances harmful to animals. What about this beluga’s well-being?’

It is reported that the trainer said the whale was ‘prettier and prettier’ as she applied the cosmetics (Picture: AsiaWire)

Keith Guo, PETA Asia press officer for China, said: ‘In 2016, PETA exposed this sea world had made many belugas and dolphins stay in shallow tanks.

‘Those sea animals who had social needs and vast water were so anxious and living in pain. Now the situation of those poor animals still doesn’t get any improvement.’

He urged members of the public to telephone the local Dalain government and call for a ban on marine mammal parks.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, beluga whales are extremely sociable mammals that live, hunt and migrate together in pods, ranging from a few individuals to hundreds.

There are only 200,000 of them left on the planet

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