The unexplained deaths of scores of Caspian seals along the coastline in Kazakhstan’s Manghystau region have raised concerns among local authorities and scientists. 

As of October 29, authorities reported that 289 seal carcasses had been discovered over a span of just five days, prompting immediate monitoring efforts by the Interregional Fishery Inspection of the Ural-Caspian Basin and experts from the Institute of Hydrobiology and Ecology.

Seal researcher Asel Baimuqanova highlighted troubling signs among the deceased seals, stating that several exhibited trauma. While the exact cause of death remains unknown, the presence of pregnant seals among the casualties adds urgency to the investigation.

Caspian seals, the only marine mammals inhabiting the Caspian Sea, once numbered over a million in the early 20th century. However, their population has dramatically decreased to an estimated 70,000, primarily due to overhunting and pollution.

In response to the alarming mortality rates, dedicated scientific teams have been conducting daily inspections along the Tupqaraghan Peninsula’s western coast since late September. This surge in seal deaths mirrors a previous incident in April, when 27 carcasses were found in the area, attributed at the time to storm-related beaching, according to the Agriculture Ministry. Authorities suspect that the seals from the April incident may have perished at sea before washing ashore.

The Caspian Sea, bordered by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan, is renowned for its rich oil and gas reserves. However, pollution stemming from hydrocarbon extraction and declining water levels pose significant threats to local species and the ecological future of the sea, experts warn.