The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute is one of the lead organizations working globally to help return the Whale Jail whales of Russia to their home in the Sea of Okhotsk where they were captured last summer.
There were originally ten orcas and eighty-seven beluga whales being held in the Whale Jail. One orca and three belugas “disappeared” after capture, whom we believe are likely dead.
Two releases (one in June and one in July of this year) have already taken place. The third release begins on Thursday, August 1st. This set of whales will embark on the same journey as the last: trucked and barged to the Sea of Okhotsk, a trip of approximately six days, and then released back to the wild.
We expect this next release will involve orcas, yet the exact number being released is not yet known. There are reportedly five orcas remaining in the sea pens, and scientists have urged the Russian government to release all of them at the same time.
A unique aspect of the next release is that the Russian fisheries agency (VNIRO) has agreed to take along an observer from Greenpeace Moscow. Reportedly, the agency has agreed to be more transparent and open, presumably as a result of public outcry and criticism from scientists. The Greenpeace observer will be present for entire transfer and release process.
Experts urged that the whales be transported by sea instead of by truck and barge to avoid the stress of long road travel. Prior to release, health issues should have been addressed for some of the ailing whales, and rehabilitation should have included the opportunity for the whales to regain their ability to catch live fish after being in confinement for so long. Furthermore, these whales are social animals and require the support of their home pods, but steps have not been taken to identify where wild whales are located and ensure that areas of whale release are proximate to these wild whales.
Last week, a group of fishermen captured footage of Alexandra (one of the released orcas) approaching their boat for food. Dubbed “the begging whale”, Alexandra was part of the second release with two orca companions, but it appears she is now separated from them. Alexandra is believed to be very young and unlikely to survive on her own. A lone whale who hangs around humans is subject to considerable danger, including being struck by boats and propellers and risking entanglement in lines or nets. Some fishermen may see the orca as a threat to their fishing and may shoot her. There are recommendations from several quarters to have the fishermen try to lure Alexandra back to the release point in time for her to join orcas who will likely be released next week. But recent reports are that she has moved away from the fishing village, so it is unclear if she can be found again.
We understand that VNIRO plans a cruise in the near future to check up on the released orcas, using the radio tags attached to their dorsal fins, to determine how they are doing and if they have reintegrated with wild orca pods. This cruise will likely take place later in August.
There is still no word on the beluga whales. Reportedly, only one of the six released belugas was fitted with a radio tag, and VNIRO has not provided any updates on the beluga whales’ status, nor how soon the remaining beluga whales in the Whale Jail will be released.
We will continue to update you on the health and location of these endangered whales as further information becomes available from our overseas sources.