UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN ... - Bizjournals

Case 1:13-cv-03241-AT Document 1 Filed 09/30/13 Page 31 of 6462. As each whale was moved into shallow waters near the onshorebaidar, it was removed from the seine net, transferred to a soft net stretcher, andloosely secured along the sides of the nearby baidar in the water parallel to andfacing the bow of the boat. Each beluga was supervised by one or two teammembers who ensured its safe, unimpeded breathing. With the belugas securedand monitored in this position, the baidars sailed slowly (less than five miles perhour – well within the normal swimming speed for beluga whales) to the ChkalovaIsland camp. The trip to Chkalova Island was undertaken cautiously, with thewhales secured to the baidar in a manner that was both safe and in a position thatensured the unimpeded breathing of the whales.63. Once the baidars had slowly motored to the Chkalova Island campand were in approximately one meter of water, the animals were moved fromalongside the baidar in their net stretchers to shallow water where measurementswere taken and their condition and status was inspected by the on-site veterinarian.They were also often kept partially covered under a section of the small net thatsurrounded them to secure their flippers and avoid injury while being examined.The veterinary examination included a full health assessment of each whale todetermine fitness, condition and status.31