The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, wrote on her Telegram channel that Japan has the means to free killer whales from an ice enclosure. The message references experts who believe the animals can be saved with appropriate action.
According to the post, there is no need for heavy icebreakers. A vessel with a basic ice class could shield the whales from wind and create an opening in the ice. Zakharova noted that Japan already possesses such a capability, at least in the past.
She also questioned why international environmentalists did not raise alarms about the situation, suggesting there were overlooked factors in the broader discussion.
Earlier reports described a pod of orcas observed in northern Japan, becoming trapped by drifting ice as it moved in and around the area. In the dialogue about what could be done, Sergei Mukhametov, a senior lecturer at the Department of Oceanology within the Faculty of Geography at Moscow State University, expressed the view that northern Japan’s orcas could be saved by a ship in the near term, should action be taken promptly.
Earlier news noted the birth of an orca calf at Moskvarium, marking a notable moment for marine life in captivity.