Russian officials order release of 100 captive whales held illegally after online pressure from actor Leonardo DiCaprio
Russian authorities have reportedly been ordered to release 100 captive orcas and beluga whales after an online petition that was pushed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio received thousands of signatures. The images, which show the magnificent animals held illegally in cramped enclosures on the Pacific coast of Russia, received furious backlash since they first emerged last year. The Kremlin said that five baby walruses, 11 orcas, and 90 baby beluga whales were being kept in inhumane conditions by the owners of the facility who planned to sell them to aquariums in China.
The FSB, Russia's federal security service, brought charges against the four companies for violating fishing laws. The animals, however, are still stuck in the "whale prison" as authorities are trying to follow proper protocols to have them all released into the wild, Mirror Online reported.