Russian tug rescues 300 northern dolphins from ice captivity

The crew of the deep-water tug Kapitan Belomestnov has liberated about 300 northern dolphins, or belugas, from ice captivity off the coast of Chukotka. According to a source in the district fish protection inspection, the Providence Bay coast guards reported that almost 300 belugas were trapped under ice by Cape Puzin of the iced-over Providence Bay.

The tug discovered a large shoal of northern dolphins breathing through holes they had broken through thin ice. The tug made a canal in the ice and thus led the animals away from the ice-coated bay. The rescue operation took about 5 hours.