Another inspection took place on January 30th. This inspection was initiated by Primorsky Environmental prosecutor’s office with the purpose to check on the seals that are also kept in the facility. The officials invited Lora Beloivan – writer, journalist and the director of the local rehabilitation center “Seal” and veterinarian Pavel Chopenko to help access the animals.

Pavel also participated in the inspection that took place on January 18-19. The preliminary results of that inspection showed deterioration of the state of health of the animals. In the harsh winter conditions, killer whales and belugas are simply freezing – the condition of at least one killer whale is critical. Killer whale calf – male by the name Kirill, floated motionless in an ice crumbs, weakened, frozen, with heavy breathing and signs of frostbite.

During the inspection on January 30th capture operators did not let Lora Beloivan to the facility, Pavel Chopenko was able to assess the seals, but not the orcas. Prosecutors were able to enter the inclosure with orcas and saw one killer whale floating on the back – belly up. They took a video and showed it to Lora and Pavel, but didn’t agree to send the heartbreaking footage. We believe that the whale floating on the back was Kirill – 1 year old orcas that was in horrible conditions during inspection on January 18-19.

New results from that inspection of exhalations and skin samples from killer whales gave us the insight into the short history of Kirill’s life:
Tatiana Denisenko, PhD, Microbiologist, Veterinarian:
“A very low level of immunoreactivity – staphylococcus, candida and other opportunistic microorganisms were found in samples. The skin of all eleven killer whales is thickly seeded with bacteria. And this is not surprising, since real microbial soup was found in the water samples taken from the sea pens. This is despite the fact that the water is from the sea and it is January. This may indicate stagnation in the water in seapens and the absence of cleaning the remnants of food.
During the examination of some orcas, various lesions on the skin were observed. Yeast-like and fungi, possible pathogens of fungal infections, were found in samples from such lesions.”
More results to follow.

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This horrible situations breaks our hearts.
The investigation has been going on for almost four months. At first, the Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Primorsky Territory was in charge of the case, the whales were arrested as property, and therefore they could not be released. Then the arrest was removed and the case was transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Khabarovsk Krai. Currently, it has been sent to the Investigation Committee of the Khabarovsk Territory.

For the time being, the authorities endlessly decide to whom and how to investigate this horrific affair – animals are kept in harsh winter conditions to which they are not adapted (in nature, killer whales and belugas migrate in the winter). At present, there are 11 killer whales  and 87 belugas in the “Whale Jail”, 15 of which are unweaned calves – babies, completely dependent on the mother.

Something have to be done to help this whales not to fir this horrible death by freezing.

We are asking you to write letters to President Putin, sign the petition and take part in online flashmob – more info here http://freerussianwhales.org/en/help/

We are also asking you to send polite letters to :
1. The Investigation Committee of the Khabarovsk Territory that is responsible for the “Whale Jail” case at the moment
opgd@27.sledcom.ru
smi@27.sledcom.ru

2. The Federal Service for Supervision of Use of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor)
delo@rpn.gov.ru

3. General Prosecutor’s Office Of Far East Region
info@gprfdfo.ru
prokuror@gprfdfo.ru,

4. General Prosecutor’s Office Of Russian Federation
otdel9_3@genproc.gov.ru

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Please bring to their attention that you are aware of the horrible situation and the fact that the whales are kept in harsh winter conditions.

Please ask them to take action as soon as possible – confiscate the whales, take away the custody from hunters and make an order for the release of orcas and belugas.

Point out that this situation is totally unacceptable and cruel to the animals that are forced to spend months in the freezing winter waters, which puts them into great danger and threatens their lives.

Please be polite in you letter.