Petition: Allow a panel of experts to rehab & release 18 wild-caught Beluga Whales in Russia [View all]

Sign the petition (need 1,100 more signature)

http://www.change.org/petitions/russian-department-of-fisheries-and-utrishskiy-delphinarium-allow-a-panel-of-experts-to-rehab-release-18-wild-caught-beluga-whales

18 wild-caught Beluga Whales have been sitting for years in a holding facility awaiting their final destination. These animals were originally caught by the Utrishskiy delphinarium with the intent to export for public display at the Georgia Aquarium and several other American Marine-park facilities. The permit for importation was denied on August 5th, 2013 now leaving the fate of these whales up in the air.

We are petitioning the Russian department of Fisheries and the Utrishskiy delphinarium to first allow a panel of experts to assess and evaluate the health and well-being of these mammals. We are then asking that pending the health of each Beluga, the team be granted permission to rehabilitate and release these animals back into the ocean, where they belong. We are well aware that some of these Beluga Whales may be deemed unfit for release, and we are asking that the Utrishskiy delphinarium consult the expert panel to make the right decision on the type of facility these animals may end up residing in.






Related article by David Kirby, Oct 2, 2013


Georgia Aquarium: We Have to Capture Beluga Whales in Order to Save Them
With their fate tied up in U.S. district court, 18 wild-caught Beluga whales continue to languish at a research facility in Russia.

http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/10/02/georgia-aquarium-we-have-capture-beluga-whales-order-save-them