Russia Whale Jail Whale Release – Many Unknowns

Yesterday, President Putin of Russia announced that Russian scientists and government officials were starting the process of releasing the Whale Jail whales from their confinement. Two orcas and six beluga whales were reportedly already loaded into trucks to be sent to the Sea of Okhotsk, where the whales were originally caught.

However, environmentalists and international scientists have concerns about how the Russian release plan will be carried out.

Ten orcas and 87 beluga whales have been held in small sea pens in the harbor of Nakhodka, miles from the Sea of Okhotsk where they were originally caught last summer. Private companies had caught the whales to sell to aquariums in China, but the Russian government, prodded by Russian conservationists, declared the captures illegal and blocked export permits. This left the question of what was to be done about the whales now held in captivity.

The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute has been working and coordinating with the efforts of international scientists, Russian conservationists, and international environmental and animal welfare groups. We have been heavily involved in providing the Russian government with the best ways to rehabilitate and release the whales. The news that the Russian government is moving forward to release the whales in the Sea of Okhotsk, rather than a previous decision to release them in Nakhodka, was welcomed.

However, there are reason for skepticism surrounding the current Russian release plan, including:

• The whales are to be put in trucks and then floated out to the Sea of Okhotsk. The journey will last an estimated six days (perhaps longer, some believe), which is very stressful on the whales. Why not transport them faster by air or smoother by sea?

• A key to successful outcomes for these whales is to release them in as close proximity as possible to their family pods. We do not see evidence that the plan will ensure this.

• Once at the Sea of Okhotsk, what preparations have been made for the whales? Will they have an opportunity acclimate to the new location before being released? Will it be ensured that they have re-learned their abilities to find and catch their prey after many months of hand-feeding by humans? Have they received adequate medical treatments before release?

It is incumbent on the Russian government to ensure that these whales, who were captured illegally, are given the best possible chance to return to their wild families.

It is positive that the Russian government is putting the release in motion, but it is also critical that it be done right. We, and our colleagues, will be seeking answers to the key questions about the release plan.

Regarding efforts to prevent this tragedy from happening again, there are some positive developments. According to the New York Times, “the government decided to ban catching whales for cultural reasons — the legal pretext that businesses had used for years to capture and then sell the animals.”

IMMP is still investigating to find out the answers to these key questions about the release plan.

Photos of the Whale Jail Whales by Harry Rabin.

We appreciate your continued support to help us help the Russian whales. We hope to help guide the whales back to a safe re-entry, and also work with Russian conservationists to put in place a permanent ban on captures of orcas and beluga whales in Russia for captivity. Please help!