The dash for gas and oil around Sakhalin Island in eastern Russia is endangering the grey whale according to the World Wildlife Fund. The Western Grey Whale Advisory Panel, including 11 international scientists has met Sakhalin Energy about the problem.

But BP, Exxon and Rosneft did not participate in the talks. The panel called for a moratorium on oil and gas development after Sakhalin Energy acknowledged there had been a notable decline in the number of grey whales in the area.

‘The continuing refusal of BP and others to join the panel could have disastrous consequences for the whales, said Heather Sohl, of the WWF.