The number of dead Caspian seals discovered along Kazakhstan’s section of the Caspian Sea continues to rise, with the latest findings reported near the Karazhanbas and Buzachi oilfields in the Mangystau region.
Environmental volunteers monitoring the shoreline say dozens of additional carcasses were found over just two days, deepening concerns about the sea’s ecological condition and the vulnerability of its endemic wildlife.
Speaking to AnewZ, long-time environmental activist Daniyar Akimzhanov, head of the regional branch of the Republican Association of Fisheries and Aquaculture “Qazaq Balyk”, said eco-volunteers surveyed parts of the coastline on 10 and 11 May and documented 37 dead seals.
Some stretches of the shore, he said, are inaccessible by car, forcing volunteers to use motorcycles to inspect remote coastal areas and count carcasses scattered along the shoreline.
Further discoveries continue to be reported. Volunteers said another 20 dead seals were found near the Tokmak area in the Karakiya district. Since 17 April, around 300 seal carcasses have been recorded along the Caspian coast, although environmental groups believe the actual number could be considerably higher.
“We, as eco-volunteers, are only able to monitor a small part of the coastline,” Akimzhanov said, adding that winds from the south-west, west and north may also be carrying carcasses from the shores of neighbouring Caspian states towards Kazakhstan’s coastline.
Information about each discovery is being passed to local authorities and district administrations to organise the collection and disposal of the carcasses in line with public health procedures. However, the exact cause of the deaths remains unclear.
Akimzhanov believes the primary reason behind the seal deaths is the broader degradation of the Caspian ecosystem. Scientists and conservationists have long warned that the sea is coming under mounting pressure from climate change, industrial activity, pollution and rapidly falling water levels.
The Caspian seal, found nowhere else in the world, is listed as endangered and is widely regarded as a key indicator of the sea’s environmental health.
The latest discoveries follow similar incidents reported in April, when nearly 100 dead seals washed ashore in the Tupkaragan district of the Mangystau region. According to Kazakhstan’s Institute of Hydrobiology and Ecology, the animals had likely died more than a month before they were discovered.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture said samples taken from both the seals and birds are currently undergoing laboratory testing, with results expected to be released once examinations are complete.
Meanwhile, Deputy Ecology Minister Nurken Sharbiyev said preliminary analyses of water samples collected from the affected coastal areas did not reveal concentrations of harmful substances above permissible levels.
Afghanistan and Türkiye are considering a tourism agreement to promote historic and religious sites, ease travel and train tourism workers, Afghan au...
Ten EU countries, led by Italy and Poland, have urged the European Union to reconsider a new carbon price on fuel as part of a wider overhaul of the b...
The Iranian Army's Ground Force promised a crushing response to the U.S. after an air raid on its barracks in the southern city of Bampur on Wednesday...
Climate change could leave Kazakhstan facing severe water shortages, longer heatwaves and mounting economic losses within decades, as rising temperatures and shrinking glaciers reshape water security across Central Asia, scientists warn.
Afghan authorities in Kabul and Herat have sought wider investment, trade and environmental cooperation with Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran and an international aid organisation.
AnewZ ‘s Destination travels to Kazakhstan’s most enchanting and unique retreat: Oi Qaragai Mountain Resort.
AnewZ Original Series 'Destination' features Kazakhstan’s premier winter sports destination and the largest ski resort in Central Asia: Shymbulak Mountain Resort.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claims it has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Ukraine and Russia exchanged fresh attacks on Tuesday, with Kyiv targeting shipping and energy infrastructure inside Russia while Moscow launched another large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
The Iranian Army's Ground Force promised a crushing response to the U.S. after an air raid on its barracks in the southern city of Bampur on Wednesday (15 July) killed seven servicemen and wounded 13 others.
Pakistan's benchmark stock index recorded its steepest one-day fall in months on Tuesday as renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran unsettled global markets and heightened fears of disruptions to oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed down 3.56%.
A British inquiry has heard fresh allegations that UK special forces killed three Afghan farmers and abused detainees during operations in Afghanistan. The claims were published this week as part of an investigation into alleged unlawful killings and a possible cover-up.
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have begun installing the first border markers along their shared frontier, marking the start of the physical demarcation of a boundary that was disputed for decades before being formally settled under a landmark agreement signed earlier this year.
The condition of cultural heritage sites in Azerbaijan's Garabagh region remains a major point of debate after decades of conflict. Despite Azerbaijan’s calls for a UNESCO assessment and post-2020 negotiations, disagreements over access, scope and the mission’s framework have prevented a review.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment