More Than 190 Dead Seals Wash Up on Caspian Coast in Mangystau

By 5 p.m. on April 17, 191 seal carcasses in an advanced state of decomposition had been found on the Caspian coast in the Tupkaragan district, Orda.kz reports, citing the Fisheries Committee of the Agriculture Ministry.

The dead animals were likely washed ashore by a strong western storm wind recorded in the area on April 15–16.

Specialists from the Institute of Hydrobiology and Ecology, which studies the Caspian seal, carried out field work, including autopsies and partial sampling from carcasses where this was still possible. Staff from the Mangystau regional ecology department also collected water and soil samples.

The Veterinary Control and Supervision Committee’s veterinary service was unable to collect pathological samples to test for possible infectious diseases because the carcasses were too badly decomposed.

According to scientists, based on many years of research, the likely causes of seal deaths include weakened immunity and reduced overall resistance of the organism, which leads to greater susceptibility to infectious diseases.the Fisheries Committee said.

The seal carcasses were collected and disposed of in accordance with sanitary rules. Monitoring of the Caspian coastline is continuing, and environmental authorities say the situation remains under constant control.

Police in the Tupkaragan district of the Mangystau region have registered a case over the discovery of the dead seals.

Original author: Rimma Karatayeva

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