An electric vehicle is still a luxury in the Russian market today, rather than a means of transport
Amidst alarming concerns over the plummeting population of Caspian seals, a crucial meeting was held by the working group on the rehabilitation of the Caspian Basin under the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
The Caspian seal, once a symbol of abundance in the Caspian Sea, now faces a dire threat of extinction. With numbers dwindling from 1.2 million individuals in 1900 to a mere 275,000 today, the situation demands immediate and decisive action.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, participants in the meeting urged the development of a dedicated conservation program specifically tailored to safeguard the Caspian seal. This program is seen as a lifeline for the species, offering a glimmer of hope for its survival.
In 2020, a stark reminder of the seal's plight came when it was listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.However, despite this designation, monitoring efforts reveal a further decline in the seal population, a trend tragically confirmed by the recent mass die-offs.
In a bid to accelerate conservation efforts, the Ministry of Natural Resources proposed during the meeting to reclassify the seal's status from "endangered" to "critically endangered". This critical step highlights the urgency of the situation and emphasizes the need for immediate intervention.
Unraveling the mystery behind the seal's decline is a multifaceted endeavor. Dagestan State University, in collaboration with the Compass Foundation for Support and Development of Environmental Initiatives, is actively engaged in investigating the root causes of these fatalities.
"This year, we are continuing our research into the causes of Caspian seal deaths," explained Tatyana Kovaleva, Director of the Compass Foundation. "Our aim is to expand the program to an international level, involving all Caspian Sea littoral states – Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan – and to develop a coordinated action plan for Caspian seal population conservation at the inter-parliamentary level."
Driven by the escalating risk of extinction, the Compass Foundation has further proposed including the Caspian seal in the List of Rare and Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna Requiring Priority Restoration and Reintroduction Measures.This inclusion would underscore the species' critical status and necessitate immediate action to avert its disappearance.
The year 2022 witnessed a heart-wrenching event in Dagestan when a mass stranding of Caspian seals washed ashore.Various hypotheses were put forth to explain this tragic incident.
One theory, proposed by Dagestan State University and the Compass Foundation, suggested a link to highly pathogenic avian influenza. However, this hypothesis was later refuted by the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.
Towards the end of last year, media outlets reported on scientific findings indicating that the seal deaths were triggered by natural gas emissions emanating from the Caspian Sea seabed, a phenomenon common in the region. These emissions, it is believed, can intensify dramatically during seismic events.
Experts have documented mass seal die-offs not only in Dagestan but also along other Caspian Sea shores, including Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
The plight of the Caspian seal serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance of our ecosystems and the profound impact human activities can have on vulnerable species. Concerted efforts and unwavering commitment are essential to reverse this alarming trend and ensure the survival of this iconic marine mammal.
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