Whale prison

About a hundred killer whales and Beluh caught by private firms of the Far East for export to China have been located in the so -called "Center for Adaptation of Marine Mammals" in the Middle Bay under the find (Primorsky Territory), better known as the "whale prison". According to activists of the "Ecological Watch of Sakhalin", the state of animals is constantly deteriorating. At least three Belukhi died in captivity over the past month.

On social networks, a petition "Freedom of Killed and Belukham" appeared

“How to develop this?” Says in it, “that inside those people for whom it is to catch, break, watch every day how the children of the whales are tormented, and the survivors are sold in slavery - just a job, from year to year? A little baby nipple has been so frozen and weakened that he does not have the strength to move in this icy baby .. The situation is simply critical for his life!”

On January 18, an audit organized by the Primorsky Department of the Border Service of the FSB of Russia was held at the “Adaptation Center”. Independent ecologists were first allowed to participate in the audit. Dmitry Lisitsin, one of the leaders of the "Ecological Watch of Sakhalin" on his Facebook page wrote a brief report on a visit to the "whale prison":

"As a great drawback, which pose a threat to animals, experts noted the complete absence of sanitary-hygienic agents and measures in the" adaptation center "aimed at preventing pathogenic microorganisms to aviaries to animals, in particular, disinfectants and dressing rooms impregnated with disinfectant fluid, at the entrance and entrance to the" center ", as well as at the entrance to each aviary.

These animals also say environmentalists, extremely difficult to endure the closed space and separation from relatives.

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In an interview with Siberia. Realii, Dmitry Lisitsin talked about why private companies in Russia are engaged in the capture and export of whaling, which is prohibited almost throughout the world.

- Dmitry, in December last year, the "whale prison" was already checked for the conditions of the content. Do you have the results of this check? What is the dynamics of the state of animals?

- Unfortunately, very bad. The Investigative Committee conducted a check a month ago, after which he issued a statement that everything is fine with the animals, they are in good condition, they eat well, everything is wonderful. But they became three less, but otherwise everything is fine with them.

- What happened to these three belugas?

We believe that the Investigative Committee is on the side

- And we do not know anything else. Experts who participated in inspections organized by the UK cannot disclose detailed information, because the Investigative Committee strictly classifies everything. Experts are forced to give a non -disclosure subscription. But, comparing what they saw in December, and what they saw now, they can say with confidence that the condition of the animals really worsened.

- What is the reason for such secrecy?

- Well, this should be addressed to the Investigative Committee, we do not know what it is connected with.

“ Have you asked them about it yourself?”

- We believe that the Investigative Committee is on the side of the captures, these are four companies: "Oceanarium DV", "Afalin", "White Kit" and "Sochi dolphinarium". In our opinion, the UK acts in the interests of these companies. Investigators have opened a criminal case, but his prospects are completely incomprehensible, investigators simply pulled out time, obviously, hoping that passions would soon settle, and then they transferred the case to the Khabarovsk police. And according to the latest data, he was already transferred somewhere from the Khabarovsk police, and where it is incomprehensible.

- That is, they are trying to hush up the case?

- We think yes.

- Is the whale prison a private territory?

- Yes.

“ And the owners can let it down, but they can not let anyone in?”

-TINRO (Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography) has rented out this territory with enclosures for four companies that are engaged in catching marine mammals. In fact, this is a real prison surrounded by several lines of fences with armed protection. The territory is closed and from the prison ordinary is no different.

“ What future awaits these killer whales, Belukh?” Are they going to sell them to China?

- Yes. And if they do this, then in China animals will not expect anything good, their life will be bad and very short. Recently, an investigation of Al-Jazisrai television company about the Chinese oceanariums, which is happening with animals. This is absolute horror.

- Previously, killer whales and belugas caught in the Far East were sold in the United States. Now this business has become impossible?

- The United States is no longer purchased by whaling, they are prohibited from their law. The last story was with our Belukhas, but the court forbade a deal. Moreover, the United States about 30 years ago ceased to catch whaling in its waters. And three years ago they officially closed the program of artificial reproduction of killer whales, that is, their breeding in captivity. Now in the USA there are 24 killer whales that are still in the oceanariums, but their number will no longer be replenished. Those that remained will survive their short century, and there will be no more killer whales there.

- Is there a legislation in Russia that protects whaling?

- Absolutely nothing, no legislation. In the world, there are only two countries that catch kit -like for entertainment establishments, these are Japan - but only dolphins are caught there, and Russia, where dolphins, killer whales, and beluga are caught. In our country, cetaceans are considered as water resources, and they are allowed to catch, they are installed in catching. Moreover, in Russia there is no legislation governing the content of these animals in captivity. Now they are sitting in a “whale prison” and are not protected by any law. Nowhere are the requirements for the conditions of their content - the size of the aviary, the number of animals in enclosures and other important things. There is none of this in our legislation.

- Do you plan to track the future fate of these animals?

- Well, of course, we did it, we do it and we will do it. Moreover, we will seek to be released into the wild.

-And the owners do not call any terms when they are going to send animals to China?

- No, they say nothing.

- That is, their plans are unknown?

- No.

- Have you tried to ask them these questions?

- Of course, and each time they say that everything will be in accordance with the decisions of state bodies. But while state bodies represented by the Amur environmental prosecutor's office were sent to all departments that issue permits for export abroad, the requirement to prohibit the issuance of such permits. First of all, it is the State Veterinary Service and Rosprirodnadzor. The State Veterinary Service issues a veterinary conclusion, and the prosecutor's office gave them an order not to issue this conclusion. And Rosprirodnadzor issues the permission of the CITES , according to the International Convention for Trade of Rare Animals. So, all the whaling fall under the requirements of the sits, and special resolution is necessary for their export. The prosecutor's office also forbade Rosprirodnazdor to issue such permission.

- Thus, they seem to force merchants to let go of animals?

The prosecutor’s office largely shares responsibility for the suffering, torment of these animals. Therefore, we ourselves will sue state bodies

- If they were forced to be seriously for this, then the prosecutor’s office would file a lawsuit in court, obliging them to release them. And the prosecutor's office has such opportunities. But she does not. We believe that this is a very large omission, and the prosecutor’s office largely shares responsibility for the suffering, torment of these animals. Therefore, we ourselves will sue state bodies that are inactive. I can’t say anything else yet.

"Siberia. Reals" turned in a company that owns the wanders and Belukha, with a request to give a comment. In the "Sochi dolphinarium" and "White Kita" they refused to talk with our journalist. The founder of Afalina LLC Alexander Pozdnyakov answered briefly:

- Marine mammals were caught legally. When submitting documents for their catch, contracts and contracts for the supply of animals to oceanariums both our country and abroad were submitted. We do not see any violations of the law when catching, content and further transfer to the oceanarium. For this, it will be used. We transfer them to the oceanariums when we draw up all the necessary documents. When - depends on state structures, they have regulations and terms. And we will not violate the law by any step, ”said Alexander Pozdnyakov .

Meanwhile, the leadership of the White Kit company wrote a statement to the Primorsky zoopeter Nina Zyryanova, who published her photo with a poster against the backdrop of the installation in the form of a roeer, set near the “whale prison”. According to Zyryanova, the district police officer soon called her, who said that she would be called to the police to testify. A day later, unknown persons destroyed the installation.