Russian rescue teams succeeded on Friday in saving a family of orcas who had become beached in shallow water in the Far East of the country.
The cetaceans — two adults and two young — had been stranded since Wednesday on the shore of the Kamchatka peninsula, around 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles) east of Moscow.
Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry and volunteers had poured water on the marine mammals — also known as killer whales — to avoid them drying out and tried to move them into deeper water by hand.
"The orcas have gone out to sea," the ministry said on Telegram on Friday, hailing a successful rescue mission.
Specialists had helped shepherd the impressive creatures up an estuary to where the water was deep enough for them to swim, helping them return to the ocean.
The orca — a toothed whale from the dolphin family — is a predator that eats seals and fish, has a global population estimated at 50,000 and is found in almost all of the world's seas.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
