Fifteen dead seals have been found on the Caspian Sea coast in the Mangystau Region, specialists have already collected samples of seawater and soil, and the cause of death is still being determined, infohub.kz reports.
According to a NUR.KZ correspondent citing the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture, the discovery was made on October 12 west of the village of Bautino in Tupkaragan District.
The dead animals were spotted by inspectors of the Caspian Seal State Nature Reserve during monitoring of the coastal area.
"The relevant authorized bodies have been informed of the discovery. Employees of the Mangystau Region Ecology Department collected samples of seawater and soil, after which cleanup work will be organized along the coast in compliance with established sanitary requirements. Monitoring of the coastal area is currently ongoing. The cause of death of the animals, based on the discovery of the carcasses, requires determination through appropriate research," the statement said.
The ministry explained that during the spring-autumn period, on the coast of the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea, including in the Mangystau Region, cases of dead seals washing ashore are recorded during storm winds from the northwest and west.