Russia frees penned whales

Russian scientists yes­terday said an effort to put nearly 100 illegally captured whales back in open water had been successful.

Captured marine mammals are seen in enclosures at a holding facility in Srednyaya Bay. Picture: AFP

Russian scientists yes­terday said an effort to put nearly 100 illegally captured whales back in open water had been successful so far, but some environmentalists claimed it was badly organised.

The condition of the 97 belugas and orcas kept in cramped conditions in Russia’s far east has drawn international concern, and President Vladimir Putin ordered authorities to ­investigate and release them.

The first group was released into the Sea of Okhotsk last week, and Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Gordeyev told Mr Putin on Wednesday that the whales had since fully readapted to a natural habitat.

Greenpeace Russia co-ordinator Oganes Targulyan said the marine mammals should have spent some time in temporary enclosures before they were let into the open sea. He said moving them on trucks inside water tanks meant unnecessary risk, and it would be preferable to move them on ships instead.

Scientists with the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography ­rejected the criticism, saying all precautions were taken to ­release the first two orcas and six belugas.

It took 10 days to move the animals from a marine container centre near the port of Nakhodka to an area where they could be safely let closer to the waters where they had lived. The effort involved experts from the institute staying with the mammals in water tanks during transportation to keep them as comfortable and safe as possible.

Another batch of whales will be released next week.

AP