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The Whale Jail Is No More!

Posted November 16, 2019 in News by Michael Mountain

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.

On November 10th, the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) reported that they carried out the release of 31 beluga whales into the Bay of Uspeniya Lazovsky in the Primorsky Krai district in accordance with the instructions of President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government.

Here are three short videos from the Russian TV service Ruptly. The first two show the whales being transported in floating sea pens from the facility at Srednyaya Bay to one of the ships that would take them to the release area. The third video shows them being lowered into the Bay of Uspeniya Lazovsky, where they swim away.

The rescue and release of 97 captive whales is a remarkable and historic achievement in which many people played a key role, including:

  • The Russian activists who brought the plight of these whales to the world’s attention and maintained steady pressure for their release;
  • The expert members of the international team assembled by the Whale Sanctuary Project to assess the health of the whales in their sea pens and recommend protocols for their release;
  • The Russian scientists whose expertise was critically important to the releases;
  • Our Executive Director Charles Vinick, who steered our whole Whale Aid Russia operation, and Jean-Michel Cousteau, who opened doors to the highest levels of the government;
  • And the generous supporters of the Whale Sanctuary Project, without whom none of this would have been possible. Thank you so much.

Here are some photos of the transport and release, courtesy of the Russian institute VNIRO:

  • The beluga whales are transported via a floating sea pen from the whale jail to the vessel “Professor Kaganovsky.”
  • They arrive at the “Professor Kaganovsky,” which is anchored a short distance from the shore.
  • The whales are lifted from the floating sea pen to the ship . . .
  • . . . where they are placed . . .
  • . . . into individual transport pens.
  • Aboard the “Professor Kaganovsky" the whales travel to the Bay of Uspeniya Lazovsky . . .
  • . . . where they are lowered . . .
  • . . . one by one . . .
  • . . . into the ocean.
  • We wish them all a good new life in the ocean, where they belong.

The Whale Sanctuary Project’s involvement began in January 2019 with a letter to President Putin offering our help and expertise for the purpose of returning the whales to the ocean. In early April, the Russian government invited our international team to Moscow with a view to our visiting the whales, assessing their condition, and offering recommendations for their safe rehabilitation, transport and release.

On April 8th, in Vladivostok, Governor Oleg Kozhemyako of Primorsky Region sat down with Charles Vinick and Jean-Michel Cousteau to sign an historic agreement stating the Russian government’s commitment to releasing all the whales.

And on June 20th, during his annual televised phone-in with the Russian people, President Putin announced that the first transport had begun. Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Gordeyev added that the government would change the law in order to ban hunting whales for “educational and cultural purposes,” a loophole that has been used to capture whales for sale to marine entertainment parks in China.

Today, because of the care and concern of people all over the world, these whales are now back home in the ocean, where they belong.

Thank you for making it possible.

Note: The full story of our Whale Aid Russia program is told here.

 

 

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Whale Aid Russia

We are assisting the Russian government in its efforts to return to the ocean 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales who were captured illegally for sale to marine entertainment parks in China.

Whale Aid Russia – the whole story
The story to date, told in words, photos and video, updated regularly.

Individual posts starting with most recent:

The Whale Jail Is No More
The last group of beluga whales have been returned to the ocean. The notorious sea pens that housed 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales are now closed.

All 10 Orcas from the Whale Jail Have Now Been Returned to the Ocean
This is exceptional progress, and while the releases have not all gone perfectly, the process overall has been successful.

Third Group of Orcas Released from Whale Jail
Transport of the third group of orcas from the “whale jail” back to the ocean has now begun.

Release of First Orcas and Belugas from Whale Jail Raises 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.

Jean-Michel Cousteau and Whale Sanctuary Project Team on Returning Whales to Ocean
A release of this scale – 10 orcas and 87 belugas – has never been done before. Words of encouragement … and caution.

Russia Begins Transport of Whales for Return to the Ocean
The government also announced a ban on capturing whales for use as entertainment.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Asks Putin to Make Final Decision
Requests that the President order the release of all orcas and belugas in the areas where they were captured.

Russian Ministry Presses for Summer Release of Captive Whales
Plans are now moving ahead to return the captive orcas and beluga whales to the ocean.

Whale Aid Russia Begins Stage Two
We have now moved to the next stage: How the rehabilitation and release of the whales will be implemented.

Plan to Immediately Release Orcas in Srednyaya Bay Should Not Be Adopted
Press release: We do not support a plan calling for release, within a month, of the 10 orcas into the ocean adjacent to their sea pens.

Recommendations for Release of Orcas and Belugas from Srednyaya Bay
Press release highlighting observations and recommendations from our Jean-Michel Cousteau/Whale Sanctuary Project team.

Russian Consilium Mirrors Assessment of Whale Sanctuary Team
“The general recommendation of the scientists now is that the whales should be released around the same location where they were captured.”

Our Report to the Russian Government
Executive summary of our assessment and recommendations.

From the Sea of Okhotsk
The story of two belugas who were captured in Russian waters and shipped to Marineland Canada.

Governor Signs Agreement to Free Captive Whales
Working together toward rehab and return to the ocean, rather than letting them be sold to entertainment facilities in China.

Russia Invites Whale Sanctuary Project to Visit Whale Jail
An overview of the orcas and beluga whales suffering in sea pens at the “whale jail.”

Video of Press Conference in Moscow:
Charles Vinick and Jean-Michel Cousteau describe some of what will be involved in rehab and return of the whales.

Russia Issues Formal Invitation to Visit Whale Jail
Our team of experts, led by Jean-Michel Cousteau, will be traveling to the notorious “whale jail” on April 3rd.

Expert Team Prepares to Visit Whale Jail
Whale Sanctuary Project assembles team to assess the orcas and belugas, and to advise the Russian government.

The Whale Jail in Srednyaya Bay
Background and history of the capture, and the condition of the whales today.

Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Letter to President Putin
These experts spearheaded the return of the orca Keiko to his home waters in the 1990s.

Letter from 34 Marine Mammal Biologists
A request for an international team of experts to evaluate and treat the whales.

Global Citizens Urge Return of the Whales
Letter from Queen Noor of Jordan, Jane Goodall, Pamela Anderson, and business leaders, actors and musicians.

 

 

Also on the Blog

  • Seaside Sanctuary Concept
  • Canada Bans Captivity of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
  • Orca Brains and Intelligence
  • “Whales Without Walls” – a short film
  • The Whale Jail Is No More!
  • Site Search Report

The Case Against Keeping Whales and Dolphins Captive

The tide is turning in the West but in Asia the marine entertainment park industry is booming. 

Special report >

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