In November last year, reports emerged of a “whale jail” in Russia, with over 100 orcas and belugas being kept in small, crowded enclosures near the city of Nakhodka, in the south east of the country. It is suspected the whales are due to be sold to Chinese theme parks—and until then they are being held in small marine containers. Local media dubbed the facility a "whale jail" and this term caught on, and is now being used by Greenpeace to describe the bay near Nakhodka. Since November, Greenpeace has been campaigning for the release of the whales, and has raised concerns about the health of the animals being held. The organization says that the water temperature in Primorye, the province where Nakhodka is located, fluctuates massively between day and night. A statement from Greenpeace said that inspections tend to be carried out in the day, when the water is warm—but at night they plummet. Killer whales, the organization says, are particularly vulnerable to the cold. This issue is compounded by the cramped conditions, which leads to hypodynamia—a condition where there is a marked decrease in strength. Put together, Greenpeace says the whales' health and lives are at risk.
