Thousands of Caspian seals found dead along the Dagestan coast
About two and a half thousand Caspian seals were reported dead on the shores of the Caspian Sea, with ongoing counts showing the number rising. Regional officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of Dagestan confirmed the increase, noting that bodies appeared in several locations around the coast.
The largest concentrations were observed in the Yuzbaş region and in the stretch between the mouths of the Sulak and Shurinka rivers. Officials described this event as the most significant mass die-off of Caspian seals in the past decade, with laboratory examinations of the affected animals planned to determine the precise cause of death.
Zaur Gapizov, the director general of the Caspian Conservation Centre, indicated that the seals had died roughly two weeks earlier and found there were no signs of violent entanglement or injuries from fishing nets. The prevailing hypothesis points to natural factors driving the deaths.
In related updates, authorities from Rosprirodnadzor and scientists are examining the possibility of hypoxia or oxygen deprivation as a contributing factor, while other data points to natural gas emissions as a potential cause. Investigators noted that there were no obvious injuries from fishing gear and that a poisoning scenario had not been confirmed. Water and tissue samples were collected for analysis, with results expected later in the week, while multiple institutions contributed to the study along a 320-kilometer stretch of coastline and the recovered remains.
Experts stressed that ongoing research is essential to understand the full context of the event and to determine whether environmental pollution or other factors played a role. At this stage, there is no confirmed link to heavy contaminants in the water, though scientists are continuing to study the samples and the health status of the seals involved.
Why oxygen starvation might occur
Vyacheslav Alekseev, head of the Center for Research and Conservation of Marine Mammals, discussed several scenarios that could lead to oxygen starvation in seals. He explained that an animal might die from not reaching the surface to breathe, especially if there are no infectious diseases impairing respiration and no poisoning involved. He noted that cold winter conditions can complicate surface access when ice blocks openings to the sea.
Alekseev also described a scenario in which seals become entangled in fishing gear, hindering their ability to reach air. In such cases, the animal may swim in circles in search of an escape, exhausting itself and suffering from oxygen deprivation. He urged a rigorous and probing investigation to uncover the underlying mechanisms at work and to assess possible mitigation measures. The goal is to determine whether these deaths stem from natural processes or if intervention is possible.
Understanding the exact causes remains a priority, and researchers emphasize the need for a careful, in-depth examination of all potential factors before drawing conclusions about prevention or policy responses.
Virus, biolabs, or something else
Some discussions have turned to the possibility of a disease or a novel pathogen contributing to seal deaths. A Telegram channel reported concerns about the liver state in studied individuals, prompting comments from public figures about potential foreign influence. A deputy from the State Duma urged declassification of activities at various international biological research facilities and suggested the involvement of unnamed laboratories near Russia’s borders. He asked for formal inquiries to uncover what might be happening and noted ongoing observations of seal die-offs across the Caspian coast.
The conversation touched on broader geopolitical questions, but experts careful about avoiding speculation stressed the importance of relying on verifiable data from controlled investigations. The public sentiment around the issue remains highly engaged, reflecting the seriousness with which the Caspian seal population is watched and protected.
Not the first mass death
Dagestan’s Ministry of Natural Resources reported that the Caspian seal population remains steady at roughly 270,000 to 300,000 individuals in the broader region, while the Caspian Environmental Center estimates about 70,000 seals live in the sea itself. The Caspian seal is the only endemic marine mammal in the Caspian Sea, a species of considerable ecological significance. Adults reach up to 160 centimeters in length and can weigh as much as 100 kilograms, feeding primarily on fish and having relatively few natural predators.
Mass deaths are not entirely unprecedented. This event marks the second notable mass mortality in the last two years, following a similar incident recorded in 2020 that affected areas within Azerbaijan and Dagestan. Rosprirodnadzor has indicated plans to hold a round table with scientists to review findings and recommendations, while the Federal Fisheries Agency noted that the 2020 death toll was around 300 seals. As investigations continue, officials stress that conclusions will be refined as laboratory results come in.
The Dagestan ministry noted that initial analyses ruled out poisonings from heavy metals or pesticides and that multiple analyses, including bacterial and virological studies and testing for pathogens such as the COVID-19 virus, have been conducted. Samples were sent to laboratories in Moscow and Astrakhan for further study. An official commitment was made to follow the investigation closely and to move beyond vague statements about natural factors to obtain a clearer explanation. The precise cause will be established through continuing laboratory work and comprehensive review of all findings, providing clearer guidance on the next steps for conservation and protection of this key population.