Free diving with Beluga Whales

For those who didn't see there is a small footage on diving with the beluga whales.

Pretty cool.

You can check it on http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7342041.stm

Those are the Belugas which are reportedly kept in big nets, part of a "conservation" project in the Solovetski islands. It's pretty much like the whalesharks in Okinawa's Yomitan project. Except there is some scientific work done on them but basically it's a swim with beluga trip.

Those are the Belugas which are reportedly kept in big nets, part of a "conservation" project in the Solovetski islands. It's pretty much like the whalesharks in Okinawa's Yomitan project. Except there is some scientific work done on them but basically it's a swim with beluga trip.

If it is like that it is pretty sad. Wonderful animals though. So gentle.

If it is like that it is pretty sad. Wonderful animals though. So gentle.

I guess every Tom, Dick and Mary will be there

Well only if Tom Dick and Mary like hard travelling. It's not easy to get to Solovetski.

I'm trying to get confirmation on the status of the belugas including whether they are captured or not. As a friend told me, it's pretty fishy to have the belugas there from summer to winter, the same 2 whales too.

It will be interested to hear, Drew. Many of the magazines that boycotted the Antibes Festival because it was at a dolphinarium have run pictures of these whales. Let's hope that they are free.

Alex

Well it's confirmed the Belugas are captive with nets. Even the video from the link (at 2.44 mins) shows the nets, much like the Yomitan whalesharks (except there was an article claiming the sharks were being rehabbed, which they obviously weren't).

I'm not sure which magazines boycotted Antibes but obviously many mag editors rely on the writers to be forthcoming with captive animals etc. I doubt they'd research out of due diligence. I'm not accusing Andrey or Dan of anything. They just wrote articles/programs. I just want to make sure people know the images are from captured mammals.

Apparently, these belugas have been in the pens for several years now and are very used to divers.

I would much rather travel to Canada to see them in a more natural setting (in the video the whales acted like they were in Sea World).