Russia releases first batch of captive whales after outcry - TASS

Russia released eight captive killer and beluga whales back into the wild on Thursday, the first group of almost 100 whales whose detention in the Far East since last year caused an international outcry, TASS news agency reported.

The plight of the whales, which were held in cramped conditions and were meant to be sold commercially, has captured imaginations around the world and prompted celebrities such as actor Leonardo DiCaprio to petition for their release.