The current operation of the release of beluga whales was completed in the Primorsky Krai last Sunday. According to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, the last batch of these animals was returned to its natural habitat in Uspeniya Bay near the Lazovsky Reserve in the Primorsky Krai. In total, 87 whales were released into the sea.
Scientists note that currently the feeding area in the Uspeniya Bay is much better than in the Sakhalin Gulf, which is why the area is preferable for the release of animals in the natural environment.
On Friday, experts released a batch of 19 beluga whales from the "Professor Kaganovsky" research vessel. At the same time, 13 whales were loaded onto the «Zodiac» vessel. After returning to Sredniaya bay, «Professor Kaganovsky» embarked the last 18 belugas. Both groups of mammals were released simultaneously on Sunday.
The scandal with an attempt to sell killer whales and 90 belugas to Chinese aquariums began in 2018. Then the prosecutor's office of the Russian Federation started investigation into the illegal catch of cetaceans. The animal transfer unit, in which the animals were located, was called "whale prison" because of small cells and poor conditions. Belugas were not released from there under the pretext that it was dangerous to let the animals go free because of the risk of death. Young beluga whales did not have survival skills in the natural environment, and Srednyaya Bay couldn't provide a sufficient feeding area.
During the transportation, the animals were calm, they were observed by scientists, veterinarians and experienced trainers. Scientists installed satellite trackers for 3 large individuals which will allow the researchers to monitor the animals’ behaviour in the wild.
Thus, all animals whose release began in June 2019 are returned to their natural habitat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the ministries together with scientists to free the animals.
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