home Russian contacts

project  |  orcas |  photo and video  |  materials |  forum |  links

our scientific publications orca capturing whaling ABOUT ORCA CAPTURING IN RUSSIA   Our orcas are now endangered. In recent years, Japanese and other aquariums have taken an interest in obtaining Russian orcas, due to the proximity of the orcas in waters due north of Japan, as well as the lack of protection for orcas in our waters. As has been shown in the Northwest US and Canada, population estimates for orcas before photo-ID research have always been much larger (3-5 times larger around Vancouver Island), while actual numbers through photo-ID proved to be far less. That and the peculiar biology of orcas - with the long-lived social pods, and "populations" generally numbering fewer than 300 individuals throughout the eastern North Pacific - are strong arguments against capturing them for aquariums. Nevertheless, for the last years Russian government annually gives permissions to catch orcas. In 2003 the young female orca was captured at Kamchatka. It was moved to Utrish dolphinarium where she died some days later. One more animal died during the capture. In spite of this, attempts to capture orcas take place annually. Russian dolphinariums have no experience in orca keeping. The main danger is that the capturing can become regular. Below are listed some documents related to orca capturing in Russia: Press-release of Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society concerning orca capturing in Russian waters Official reply of Dr.Mukhametov to the Paul Spong's request about the captured orca Publication from Orcalab site about the died orca Letter from WDCS to russian authorities concerning orca capturing in Russia About the meeting of Russian Marine Mammal Council where the orca capturing was discussed Detailed story about orca capturing The short story from eye-witness about orca capturing Official response of Ministry of Natural Resources of Russian Federation to the letters from Russian and Foreign citizens with questions about capture of orca top