Russia plans to free almost 100 captured whales

Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press Updated 8:24 am CDT, Friday, April 5, 2019



Photo: AP
In this video grab provided by the RU-RTR Russian television, Jean-Michel Cousteau of the Ocean Futures Society speaks to the media in Vladivostok, Russia, Thursday, April 4, 2019 Russian officials say that nearly 100 illegally captured whales could be returned to the wild during the summer. Cousteau of the Ocean Futures Society arrived Friday, April 5, 2019 in Russia's Far East on a mission to inspect the mammals and help create conditions for them to be released. Cousteau, son of famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, has voiced concern about the animals' condition and offered his help to the Russian government. (RU-RTR Russian Television/via AP)


MOSCOW (AP) — Russian officials have invited a French ocean explorer to offer advice on how to safely release nearly 100 illegally captured whales, voicing hope that the animals could be let into the wild during summer.

Jean-Michel Cousteau of the Ocean Futures Society arrived Friday in Russia's Far East on a mission to inspect the mammals and help create conditions for them to be released. Cousteau, son of famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, has voiced concern about the animals' condition and offered his help to the Russian government.

The whales' condition has drawn international concern, and President Vladimir Putin has ordered authorities to investigate the case and release the animals. Russian prosecutors have brought criminal charges against four companies keeping the whales.

Whales are worth a fortune on the black market, and local environmental activists suspected that they were captured for sale to amusements parks in China. Russian law only allows for the capture of whales for "scientific" purposes.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Russia-plans-to-free-almost-100-captured-whales-13743741.php