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All 10 Orcas from the Whale Jail Have Now Been Returned to the Ocean

Posted August 30, 2019 in News by Charles Vinick

This week marked the completion of the return of the 10 orcas from the “whale jail” in Russia to the Sea of Okhotsk, from where they were captured last year.

This is exceptional progress, and so many of you have made this possible through your participation and support of our Whale Aid Russia program.

Both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Sakhalin Environmental Watch activist group have said that the release of the orcas could not have been accomplished without the work of the Jean-Michel Cousteau/Whale Sanctuary Project team.

Seeing these whales swimming exuberantly in the open sea for the first time in almost a year is heartwarming. You can see and feel the “joy” of the whales in the photos and videos.

That is not to say that the releases have all gone perfectly. The Russian government contracted with the fishing companies (the captors) to transport the whales back to the waters from which they were taken. And while there was certainly some logic to doing it this way, the government did not accept, or believed they could not execute, some of our recommendations for the releases.

For example, we had outlined methodologies for preparing the whales for transport, keeping them in larger transport containers, and adapting them to the open ocean in sea pens at the release site prior to release. Instead the Russians have been releasing the whales from their transport boxes immediately upon reaching the release site after a five-day transport.

We also pressed for independent monitoring of the whole program. And this was introduced for the third transport/release, with Greenpeace Russia being invited to officially observe the entire operation.

But overall, the process has been successful. And yesterday, August 29th, Grigory Tsidulko, a member of the Council for Marine Mammals and of the Whale Sanctuary Project team, reported that the orca known as Vasilievna, who had been part of the first group of orcas released on June 27th, had been seen hunting and sharing food with a group of wild whales. This is a milestone in the program, showing that these captured orcas can indeed be returned to the ocean and successfully find their families or another group that will adopt them.

Next: Returning the remaining 75 belugas

Photo courtesy of VNIRO

Along with the 10 orcas in the first phase of the transport/release program, 12 belugas were also returned to the ocean, leaving 75 to be released before the onset of winter.

Because of the large number involved and the difficulty in tracking belugas once they are released, this next phase will likely be the most challenging. We are in continuing contact with the scientists overseeing the program and are providing additional suggestions and recommendations.

Meanwhile, we are also advising on the monitoring of all the whales. Many of them have satellite tags attached to their dorsal fins, and we have proposed additional methodologies for tracking them to increase the likelihood of visual contact. This will help us to establish if they have joined other wild whales, which is very important for their long-term well-being.

All in all, there is still much to do to complete the release of the rest of the original 97 orcas and belugas before the weather changes.

At the same time, we are also negotiating with the Ministry of Natural Resources, at their invitation, for a longer-term relationship, and we are keeping pressure on Russia to fulfill their public statement to end the capture of orcas and belugas altogether.

(Two months ago, during President Putin’s annual “Direct Line” televised phone-in with the Russian people, Deputy Prime Minister Gordeyev announced that the government would change the law in order to ban hunting whales for “educational and cultural purposes” – a loophole used to capture these whales.)

We know that the government is getting a lot of pushback from fishing companies, and a permanent ban on the capture of wild whales and dolphins for sale to marine entertainment parks – mostly in China – has to be an ultimate goal of all of this work.

Again, none of what has been accomplished so far would have been possible without the continuing participation and support of so many of you. And while there is still much to be completed, we should all take a moment to recognize that this is a landmark event: the largest whale rescue and release program in history. Thank you again.

 

Whale Aid Russia

How the Whale Sanctuary Project worked with the Russian government and Russian animal protection groups to return to the ocean 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales who had been captured illegally for sale to marine entertainment parks in China. Whale Aid Russia

This is the story of the biggest whale rescue in history – of the Whale Sanctuary Project’s work with the Russian government and Russian animal protection groups to return to the ocean 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales who had been captured illegally.Read more

The Whale Jail Is No More!

The last group of beluga whales from the “whale jail” in Russia have been returned to the ocean. The notorious sea pens that housed 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales who had been captured for sale to marine parks in China are now closed.Read more

Statement on Russia’s Efforts to Release All Whales from “Whale Jail”

The Whale Sanctuary Project has issued the following statement regarding the continuing efforts to return to the ocean all the beluga whales still housed at the “whale jail” on Russia’s Far East coast.Read more

All 10 Orcas from the Whale Jail Have Now Been Returned to the Ocean

This week marked the completion of the return of the 10 orcas from the “whale jail” in Russia to the Sea of Okhotsk, from where they were captured last year. This is exceptional progress, and so many of you have made this possible through your participation and support of our Whale Aid Russia program.Read more

Third Group of Orcas Released from Whale Jail

Russian authorities have begun the transport and release of a third group of orcas from the “whale jail.” In response to criticism of the lack of transparency, the government has invited Greenpeace Russia to observe much of this third release. And Greenpeace has asked the Whale Sanctuary Project to provide recommendations on how to conduct its mission most effectively. Read more

Release of First Orcas and Belugas from “Whale Jail” Raises Growing Concerns

Serious questions are being raised about the care of the orcas and beluga whales who are being returned to the ocean from the “whale jail” in Russia. What appears to have been missing is the kind of detailed contingency planning that’s key to a successful release.Read more

Jean-Michel Cousteau and Whale Sanctuary Project Team on Returning Whales to Ocean

Russia has begun the process of returning the whales that were illegally captured last year back to the area where they were captured. Jean-Michel Cousteau and The Whale Sanctuary Project urge the Russian government to include international specialists and Russian observers.Read more

Russia Begins Transport of Whales for Return to the Ocean

Russia has begun the process of returning to ocean waters the 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales who were captured last year and have been living in what has become known as the “whale jail” in the country’s Far East. The government also announced a ban on capturing whales for use as entertainment.Read more

Russian Ministry Presses for Summer Release of Captive Whales

Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources & the Environment says plans are now moving ahead to return the captive orcas and beluga whales being held at the “whale jail” in Srednyaya Bay to the ocean.Read more

Whale Aid Russia Begins Stage Two

We have completed the first stage of our work on behalf of the 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales who were captured in Russian waters last July for sale to marine entertainment parks in China. And we have now moved to the next stage: How the rehabilitation and release of the whales will be implemented.Read more

Plan to Immediately Release Orcas in Srednyaya Bay Should Not Be Adopted

The Jean-Michel Cousteau / Whale Sanctuary Project team does not support the new plan, announced by Russian authorities on May 15th, for the 10 orcas being held at the “whale jail” in Russia to be released directly into the open ocean adjacent to their sea pens. The comprehensive rehabilitation and re-adaptation plan for the orcas and belugas offers the best chances for successful re-introduction to life in the wild.Read more

Recommendations for Release of Orcas and Belugas from Srednyaya Bay

The Russian government is currently assessing recommendations for rehab and release of the 97 orcas and beluga whales who were captured last year in Russian waters and are being held in sea pens in Srednyaya Bay. This press release highlights the observations and recommendations of the Jean-Michel Cousteau/Whale Sanctuary Project team.Read more

Russian Consilium Mirrors Assessment of Whale Sanctuary Team

Announcement from Russian institute VNIRO mirrors assessment of Whale Sanctuary Project team that all orcas and belugas in captivity at Srednyaya Bay can be rehabilitated and returned to ocean waters.Read more

Report on Orcas and Belugas Held in Srednyaya Bay

Executive summary of the report to the Russian Government regarding the 10 orcas and 87 belugas being held in sea pens in Srednyaya Bay. Prepared by the Jean-Michel Cousteau/Whale Sanctuary Project Team.Read more

Russian Governor Signs Agreement to Free Captive Whales

The Russian government has affirmed that the 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales being held captive at the “whale jail” in Srednyaya Bay will be returned to the ocean.Read more

Whale Jail: From Global Outcry to International Cooperation

What began as a global outcry has evolved into a work of international cooperation. Yesterday, in Moscow, people of many nationalities gathered at the Ministry of Natural Resources to begin a long-term effort to return 97 illegally-captured orcas and beluga whales to the ocean.Read more

Whale Aid – Russia: News Release

The Whale Sanctuary Project issued the following news release this morning: WHALE AID – RUSSIA! Russia invites Whale Sanctuary Project to visit illegal “whale jail” […]Read more

Russia Invites Whale Sanctuary Project to Visit Whale Jail

The Russian government has invited the Whale Sanctuary Project to visit the illegal “whale jail” on Russia’s Far East coast, where 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales are confined in appalling conditions, and to help and advise the government on their future.Read more

Russia Issues Formal Invitation to Visit “Whale Jail”

The Whale Sanctuary Project has brought together a team of experts, led by oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau, to visit the notorious “whale jail" on Russia’s Far East coast and to advise the government on their health and how they can be returned to the open ocean.Read more

Expert Team Prepares to Visit Notorious “Whale Jail”

The Whale Sanctuary Project is organizing a team of experts from non-profits and other NGO’s to go to Srednyaya Bay in Primorsky Region on the Far East coast of Russia and assess the condition of the 10 orca and 87 beluga whales being held there in the notorious "whale jail."Read more

The Whale Jail in Srednyaya Bay

The Whale Sanctuary Project is organizing a team of experts to go to Russia and assess the condition of 10 orca and 87 beluga whales being held in small pens there. Here is some background.Read more

Jean-Michel Cousteau Pens a Letter to President Putin

The four signatories spearheaded the return of the orca Keiko to his home waters in the 1990s. They offer the Russian government and the Russian scientific community their expertise and help in restoring the orcas and beluga whales, now being held in sea pens in Srednyaya Bay, to their home pods.Read more

34 Marine Mammal Biologists Urge Release of Whales

Donate now to help the whales A group of prominent marine mammal scientists from around the world has written a letter to Russian President Vladimir […]Read more

Global Citizens Urge Release of “Whale Jail” Orcas & Belugas

A group of prominent global citizens signed a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin encouraging the government to release 10 orcas and 80+ beluga whales now kept in inadequate sea pens in the “Whale Jail” in Srednyaya Bay, near the east coast city of Nakhodka.Read more

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