Screenshot of the video online

 
Recently, a video went viral on Chinese social media showing a man smoking in a no-smoking area in an aquarium in Dalian having his cigarette extinguished when a beluga whale sprayed water on him from behind.

In the video, the man carrying a white plastic bag is seen standing with his back to the pool and lighting a cigarette with a lighter. A staff member quickly approaches to stop him. At that moment, a beluga whale not far away leaps out of the water and sprays a jet of water that extinguishes the cigarette, startling the man.

On Sunday, a Beijing News reporter learned from the aquarium involved that the video was a rehearsal for filming a fire-safety publicity piece. All participants were aquarium employees, and multiple staged shots were taken at the time.

According to information obtained from official channels in Dalian, the video was confirmed to be staged and that relevant authorities have intervened to handle the matter, the Beijing News reported.

Global Times