Firm 'caused whales to flee area'

Oil and gas exploration may have caused a population of critically endangered whales to flee their feeding ground, conservationists have warned.

Wildlife charity WWF said seismic surveys by Russian oil and gas company Rosneft to detect fossil fuel deposits under the ocean floor had disturbed western grey whales in feeding grounds in the Russian Far East.

There are thought to be around 130 western north Pacific grey whales left in the world, with just 30 breeding females.

The conservation group said Rosneft had gone ahead with the survey near Sakhalin Island even though a number of western grey whale mothers and calves were feeding in the area - and despite calls from 12 governments, charities, scientists and the public to postpone the tests.

More than 10,000 people sent Rosneft emails requesting the survey be delayed.

WWF said the company could easily have postponed the survey until next year, holding it before the whales arrive at the site.

Before the seismic testing started, WWF said there were around 10 to 15 whales feeding in the area, but since the exploration activities began, whales have only been seen migrating across the area, not feeding.

Wendy Elliott, WWF's whale expert, said: "This is a critical problem as the whales have only a short time in which to consume enough food to last them through the year when they migrate to their breeding and calving grounds."

Aleksey Knizhnikov, oil and gas environmental policy officer for WWF Russia, said: "Rosneft is irresponsibly insisting on conducting this survey when they could easily postpone the survey until next year and hold it before the whales arrive.

"Rosneft may be ignoring public outcry but their negligent behaviour will not be forgotten, and they will have to be held responsible for any harm that comes to the whales as a result of these surveys."