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Summary
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, a judo black belt who last year shot a tiger, has demonstrated his softer side by donning a wet suit and tagging a whale. During a trip to Russia's Far East, Putin waded into the Pacific Ocean and attached a satellite tracking tag to a Beluga whale named Dasha as scientists looked on, the government said in a statement. Putin attached the device to the whale, which was held in place by a net, as part of research into the Beluga's migration pattern. The prime minister patted the whale and said don't be angry, before helping scientists release her. He then fed fish to some other Belugas. The former KGB spy cultivated a macho image during his eight years as president before stepping down last year. Putin, 56, made it into glossy magazines across the world two years ago by baring his muscular torso for photographers while on a fishing trip. Putin tagged the whale on Chkalov Island, 700 kilometres (440 miles) northeast of the city of Khabarovsk, where he attended the launch of a new natural gas pipeline on Friday.
