Georgia
Georgia Aquarium experts help rescue 2 beluga whales from war-torn Ukraine
Marine mammal care specialists from the Georgia Aquarium were part of a team that rescued two beluga whales from Ukraine this week and safely delivered them to an aquarium in Spain.
It’s being called “likely the most complex marine mammal rescue ever undertaken.”
The multinational collaboration took place on Tuesday and ended with the arrival of 15-year-old male Plombir and 14-year-old female Miranda to Oceanographic Valencia. The aquarium is the largest in Europe and the only one on the continent with belugas in its facilities, according to a press release.
“The complexities of this evacuation were immense, and we have been working for weeks to prepare for it,” said Dennis Christen, senior director of animal wellbeing and behavior at the Georgia Aquarium. “I’m humbled to have been trusted to provide the belugas care and protection during their long journey to their new home.”
The operation began with a team from NEMO Dolphinarium in Kharkiv, Ukraine, taking the belugas on a 12-hour drive to Odesa, a Ukrainian city 400 miles away. There they met the team of marine mammal care specialists from the Georgia Aquarium, Oceanographic Valencia and SeaWorld, who cared for the belugas on the long journey to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.
The route of the rescue operation. (Courtesy of Georgia Aquarium)
Dr. Daniel Garcia-Párraga, director of zoological operations at Oceanografic, said that if the belugas had stayed in Kharkiv, “their chances of survival would have been very slim.”
“I applaud AZA [Association of Zoos and Aquariums] members Oceanografic, Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld, for convening the world’s most elite team of marine mammal experts to work with the Ukrainian aquarium on what is likely the most complex marine mammal rescue ever undertaken,” said Dan Ashe, President and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
A team of medical, nutritional and behavioral experts at Oceanographic are helping the belugas recover from the trauma they have experienced. Two Ukrainian caregivers are also helping out for the next couple of weeks to help with the transition and care, according to the release.
“My heart is with the Ukrainian caregivers and the people of Kharkiv who had to say goodbye to Miranda and Plombir,” said the Georgia Aquarium’s Christen. “It’s not an easy thing to do, but it was best for them. I’m proud to have played a role in helping them,”
Georgia
Deputies hoping facial reconstruction will solve cold case mystery of woman found in Georgia lake
Georgia deputies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are hoping a new facial reconstruction will help identify a woman whose body was discovered in a Troup County lake.
It’s been nearly five years since deputies recovered the decomposed body from West Point Lake. While more details about the discovery have not been released, authorities say they found the body in the man-made reservoir on May 15, 2021.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents later determined that the body was an adult Black woman. They could not determine the cause of her death or anything connected with her identity.
To help with the case, the FBI created a facial reconstruction of the woman’s skull, which the Troup County Sheriff’s Office shared on Facebook.
Investigators are asking anyone who recognizes the woman or knows of someone matching the description who went missing around May 2021 to call Investigator Clay Bryant at (706) 883-1616.
Dry air and gusty winds are expected to create high fire danger conditions Thursday afternoon into the evening across parts of north and central Georgia.
GEORGIA FIRE WEATHER ALERTS
Relative humidities of 25 percent or less are expected for four or more hours Thursday afternoon into the evening. Winds are forecast to be from the northeast to southeast at 7 to 12 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. With dry fuels in place, the weather service said high fire danger conditions can be expected.
Everyone is urged to check with local burn permitting authorities about whether outdoor burning is allowed. If burning is permitted, use extreme caution.
MIDDLE GEORGIA FIRE WEATHER ALERTS
The statement covers a wide area of Georgia including the following Middle Georgia counties: Butts, Jasper, Putnam, Hancock, Upson, Lamar, Monroe, Jones, and Baldwin.
The Bulldogs initially missed out on the defensive back, but the Clemson transfer is expected to make an immediate impact.
Clemson transfer Khalil Barnes — pictured taking part in the second day of spring practice in Athens in March — has spent most of the spring starting at the STAR position despite Rasean Dinkins playing there late last season after Joenel Aguero was injured. Aguero transferred this offseason. (DawgNation staff)
ATHENS — Landing prospects out of the transfer portal is often a dart throw.
And after bringing in three defensive back transfers for the 2025 season and another four this offseason, Georgia finally seems to have hit the mark with former Clemson standout Khalil Barnes.
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Elijah Griffin takes part in the second day of spring practice in Athens, Georgia, on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (DawgNation staff photo)
Connor Riley has been covering the University of Georgia since 2014 before moving to DawgNation full-time before the 2018 season. He helps in all areas of the site such as team coverage, recruiting, video production, social media and podcasting. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 2016.
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