Touching, feeding and training Beluga whales is helping 16 children suffering from autism in northeast China.

The children, all under 10 years of age are working with the whales at the Polarland Aquarium in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province.

Experts said that the sounds by beluga whales can help to treat infantile autism by stimulating thee children's nerve cells, which will be more effective when the children make direct contacts with the animals.

The children spend 30 minutes, three times a week with the whales which are from the Arctic Circle near Russia,

After a 20-day course of treatment the children are given medicines and get supportive therapy.

Dolphins have been used in other parts of the world to help stimulate children with autism, experts said.

Source: Xinhua