Russian government needs to act towards release of orcas and beluga whales
The current sea pen conditions are harmful to the whales. Some of the orcas are showing signs of frostbite and one has died. High levels of bacteria have also been detected, threatening the health of the whales and orcas.
MARK J. PALMER: ‘There have been several important developments in the race to find a solution to the problem of 87 beluga whales and 11 orcas now kept in a Russian “whale prison”. The whales were captured for sale to Chinese aquariums for a life of captivity to entertain tourists, but Russian authorities have determined the permits for the capture were illegal, refused to issue export permits, and ruled out issuing new capture permits for 2019. However, the Russian government has not taken any action so far to return the orcas and beluga whales to their home pods.
Meanwhile, the current sea pen conditions are harmful to the whales. Some of the orcas are showing signs of frostbite and cuts due to sharp ice that forms in the sea pens, and reportedly one orca has “run away,” likely meaning it died and has been disposed of. High levels of bacteria have also been detected, which further threatens the health of the over-crowded beluga whales and orcas… The Russian government is so far balking at taking action.
Some bureaucrats are reportedly claiming that, among other things, the government cannot act to seize the whales or the facility from the owners without a court ruling, which could take months. One Russian official wrongly claims the effort to free the whales is because the United States wants to corner the global market in live orcas and beluga whales for export. This is false – there are no plans nor is it legal to capture these cetaceans in US waters without an elaborate permit process that would likely fail.
Russian conservation groups, working with the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute and other organizations, believe there are more direct ways for the government to take action, rather than relying on the slow court system. IMMP also supports involvement of the NGOs in Russia along with Russian scientists and outside experts for return of the animals to their home pods’. SOURCE…
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