Editor’s Note: On November 10, 2019, the Russian government released the final group of animals from the “whale jail.” Authorities from the Russian Federal Research Institute for Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) transported the remaining 50 belugas in three groups over 10 days from the holding facility to Uspeniya Bay, about 62 miles away. Uspeniya Bay is not native habitat for beluga whales, but authorities said it was the best option for the remaining animals due to weather and funding concerns. In a joint statement, advocates say the release location is “not ideal” and notes the presence of North Korean hunting ships in the region. The entire release process of all 97 orcas and belugas took place over four and a half months, with the other 47 animals being released at their point of capture in June. (This story was originally published June 20.)