Mass death of seals on the coast of the largest lake in the world

Scientists from state institutions collected tissues from dead mammals for research, which were found on the coast of the Caspian Sea in the Mangystau Oblast at the turn of October and November. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture says that so far all animal samples tested for diseases such as pasteurellosis, bird flu, distemper, salmonellosis and listeriosis have turned out to be negative.

The ministry added that final conclusions regarding the cause of the animals' deaths will be presented after laboratory tests, which may take from three to four months.

However, a theory has emerged that the cause of mass death of mammals may be “natural phenomena”, such as “emission of natural gas as a result of underwater earthquakes”. It was initially ruled out that poachers were the cause.

The proper name of the seals living in the Caspian Sea is the Caspian seal (Latin: Pusa caspica). It is endemic to this largest lake in the world. Females reach a length of 140 centimeters, males up to 150 centimeters, and can weigh up to 86 kilograms.

These mammals are an endangered species, so a few months ago the Kazakh authorities announced the creation of a reserve with an area of ​​over a thousand square kilometers, which is aimed at preserving the population of these animals.

The number of seals is not precisely known – estimates vary greatly and range between 70,000 and 300,000 individuals. Recently, however, the number of animals has been systematically decreasing due to poaching, pollution with industrial waste, shallowing of the lake and deterioration of the habitats. Observers also draw attention to the fact that the Caspian Sea area has become a place for launching missiles into Ukraine and a training ground for the Russian army, which has an impact on the fauna in this reservoir.