Three More Russian Orcas Released; Next Release Scheduled
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.
On August 6th, three more of the Russian Whale Jail orcas were successfully released. Shortly thereafter, all three orcas were observed swimming strongly together.
Greenpeace Russia had observers on hand, along with scientists working with Russian agencies. The Greenpeace observers reported: “A couple of hours - and freedom. Tikhon, Gadget and Zoya synchronously [swam in] circles in the bluish icy water of their native sea.”
Two orcas remain in the Whale Jail, along with eighty-one beluga whales. All were destined for sale to Chinese aquariums for a dismal life in concrete tanks performing tricks for tourists. Fortunately, Russian grassroots organizations mounted a spirited opposition campaign and legal challenge, backed by the work and expertise of IMMP and other international experts and organizations, to stop the exports and to return the whales to where they were caught.
A Russian court has found the captures to be a violation of Russian law, and the companies involved in the captures have been fined. Ironically, the Russian government has contracted with these same companies to deliver the orcas and beluga whales back to the Sea of Okhotsk.
The next release is scheduled to begin on August 22nd, according to the Russian environmental agency. It will include the two remaining orcas, and possibly some of the beluga whales. It takes five days to truck and barge the whales from the Russian Whale Jail, south of Vladivostok, to their home waters. The agency vowed to continue the process for the remaining beluga whales as long as the weather will allow, likely into November.
The Russian Federal Research Institute Of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) plans to check on the status of the released orcas (most of which are carrying satellite tags bolted to their dorsal fins) by sea in the coming weeks. They also agreed to re-count the number of beluga whales left in the Whale Jail, as there is some controversy over “missing” whales, including word from China that two beluga whales were recently exported from Russia – a violation of the export ban if the Whale Jail was the source.
However, the fate of the released six beluga whales remains unknown. Apparently, only one of the whales was fitted with a satellite tag, and the Russian government has not released any information about tracking them.
IMMP is working closely with Russian non-governmental organizations to report information about the releases, as well as to prepare for the proposed ban on captures of whales and (we hope) dolphins in Russian waters for captivity, as pledged by the government of President Putin.
Photo(s) courtesy of Greenpeace Russia.
We are working diligently to ensure the orcas and beluga whales are released from the Russian Whale Jail to their home waters. Help us end the captures permanently and ensure that there are no future Russian Whale Jails. Thanks for your generous donations to help safeguard orcas and belugas.
