A further 87 are currently still in the facility nicknamed "whale jail". Whales were massaged and lathered in special balm as they rode toward the ocean in a motorcade as part of their release from a "jail" in the Russian far east, the institute overseeing the operation said Thursday. Two killer whales and six beluga whales were freed last week after months of captivity and a public backlash that eventually saw President Vladimir Putin endorse their release.
The animals have been held in cramped enclosures since last summer by commercial firms that planned to deliver them to aquariums, including in China where the industry is booming.
Before their release into the ocean, "veterinarians and coaches massaged the killer whales, rubbing their tails and flippers for four to six hours," Vyacheslav Bizikov, deputy director of VNIRO, said. The two killer whales were brother and sister who had formed an attachment, and were communicating during the trip, he said. Their satellite trackers indicate that "they are searching" for something -- perhaps their families.
Many scientists and activists criticised VNIRO for keeping the details of the release secret, not taking any observers on the trip and only freeing a small group of animals rather than all of them together, which would boost their survival odds. Kolonchin said the institute settled on a solution that delivered the animals to the right location while being affordable, because nobody offered any help. The institute took advice from foreign experts like ocean conservationist Jean-Michel Cousteau, but it had to be "adapted to our Russian reality", he added.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram for latest news and live news updates. Creams, Massage And Police Escort: How Russian Whales Were Freed Two killer whales and six beluga whales were freed last week after months of captivity and a public backlash that eventually saw President Vladimir Putin endorse their release. World Agence France-Presse Updated: July 04, NDTV Beeps - your daily newsletter.
