Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin strokes a Beluga whale named Dasha as he visits Chkalov island, 700 kilometres (440 miles) northeast of the city of Khabarovsk, July 31, 2009. Putin, a judo black belt who last year shot a tiger, on Friday demonstrated his softer side by donning a wet suit and tagging a whale. Picture taken July 31, 2009. REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Alexei Nikolsky (RUSSIA ANIMALS POLITICS ENVIRONMENT SCI TECH IMAGES OF THE DAY) QUALITY FROM SOURCE
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