At least two close encounters with ‘smiley’ and playful animals were filmed in the Far East of Russia.
Five belugas were stranded on the same beach by the Sea of Okhotsk within less than a week.
Alexey Paramonov, 36, stayed with the whales until tide returned, keeping them safe and hydrated.
Leaders of the Free Willy project beg the president to intervene with trapped orca and beluga whales.
Sea creatures in ‘Whale Jail’ are ‘trapped’ under ice amid growing concern over their fate.
Mammals were being readied for sale to aquariums in China, but now are to return to wild after public campaign.
The Russian president took part in the 'Flight of Hope', giving a flying lesson to young white cranes ahead of their epic 5,000 km migration.