Thread by @dolphin_angels

(1/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, Thank you very much for the decision to return the 10 orcas & 87 belugas back to the Shantar Islands in the Sea of Okhotsk. This would not have been possible without your intervention and guidance. So, thank you.

(2/20 )
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, There is debate on transportation of the whales. There is no risk-free method of moving 97 whales through 2000km. There is a need to consider which method will best deliver the whales safely to the Sea of Okhotsk

(3/10)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, Many things can go wrong during transport on land. Trucks can have an accident, overturn, breakdown, crates can fall off, spill water from the crates. Any of these mishaps will mean certain death for the whales.

(4/10)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, The present method of moving the whales by truck and barge involves confinement of the whales with no room to move for 144 hours straight. During transportation, the whales will be immersed in their own excrement.

(5/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, No one can see & monitor the condition of the whales in the crates during transportation which can be many hours. If the whales are in distress in the crates, the whales could die without anyone coming to help.

(6/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, The trucking of whales over land will definitely cause the whales injury. The only question is how much injury. We have seen a lot of blood on the mats on which the whales were placed in Sakhalin Bay. Very worrying

(7/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, The method of transporting the whales by truck involves high risks and great distress for the whales. It can only be done a few whales at a time and extends the operation into October.

(8/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, Transportation by towing the sea pens to the Sea of Okhotsk leaves of the whales in the sea at all times. The whales experience minimal stress and can be monitored and cared for at all times.

(9/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, The sea voyage would be guided by satellite weather forecasts all the way so that evasive action can be taken to avoid severe storms.

(10/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, Whales live in the sea and they deal with storms all the time. If the net used to tow the whales is made wide and deep enough, the whales will go deeper for shelter from any severe storm.

(11/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, The net can be made by joining the nets in the existing sea pens & adding more nets to make a larger & deeper net. Within the large net can be a small section where weak whales can be kept & nursed if necessary

(12/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, One of the advantages of towing the whales is that the whales can be observed at all times and care can be given at any time during the voyage to the Sea of Okhotsk where necessary.

(13/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, The 4 companies would have taken the whales from the Sea of Okhotsk to Srednyaya Bay across the sea. The whales have survived the same risks of storms over the 2000km voyage to Srednyaya Bay.

(14/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, It is crucial for these young whales to have speed and agility while hunting live prey for food. Tagging the whales with satellite tags will affect their speed and agility, and endanger their ability to survive.

(15/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, The NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Adminstration) suspended satellite-tagging of orcas in 2016 after the death of tagged orca L95.
Article →bit.ly/2KMXNb1

(16/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, The whales have suffered a lot. It is not good to tag them to gather research data. If tagging is deemed necessary for research it should be done on healthy adult whales. Tagging does more harm than good.

(17/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, Tagging the whales could result in whales getting social rejection from other whales. Tagging for 3 months is longer than is necessary for the benefit of the young whales. They have suffered quite enough.

(18/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, We welcome Mr Ilya Shestakov’s invitation to Mr Jean-Michel Cousteau to join & observe the return of whales to Sea of Okhotsk. A child was in Sakhalin Bay handling the whales. Experts should be allowed there too.

(19/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, We request VNIRO to allow the media and public to observe the process too. This will improve trust and relations between people and government and remove suspicions.

(20/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, You have the gratitude of the Russians and people worldwide. Thank you very much yet again for your time and intervention which has greatly improved the safety, security and situation for the whales. Thank you!

(17a/20)
#PresidentPutin @KremlinRussia_E, All we need to know is that the released whales have successfully joined whales of the same species. The whales only need to be briefly monitored by drone for us to know this. Tagging is not necessary.