Seawater Pollution May Have Caused Death of Seals on Caspian Coast

Almost two thousand dead seals were found in Mangystau Oblast. The Jaiyq-Caspian Interregional Basin Fisheries Inspection provided such data after surveying the Caspian Sea coast from October 24 to November 18, Orda.kz reports, citing Lada.kz.

In the Tupkaragan district, 1,155 animal carcasses were found, another 834 during the flights around the islands of Kulaly, Morskoy, Podgorny, Novy, as well as in the Karazhanbas and Kalamkas districts.

A total of 1,989 dead seals were found.

By the time they were discovered, the seals were severely decomposed, so it was not possible to take samples for pathological analysis.

Researcher Asel Baimukanova from the Institute of Hydrobiology and Ecology suggests that the mass death could have been caused by marine environment pollution. The Fisheries Committee believes this could be due to natural gas emissions after an underwater earthquake.

Scientific organizations have made a partial selection of tissue from internal organs, fangs and subcutaneous fat for laboratory research. The reasons will be known after the laboratory research is completed. This may take three or four months, they said.

Tests were also conducted for infections, including pasteurellosis, bird flu, canine distemper, salmonella, and listeriosis. None were found, but testing is ongoing.

Original Author: Danil Utyupin