Dozens of young seal pups have been found stranded on the Kazakh steppe after a snowstorm, possibly due to strong winds or confusion caused by the visual merging of ice and snow. The Caspian nerpa, facing a population decline from poaching and pollution, is notably affected. The situation also disrupted local oilfield operations, leaving the total number of stranded seals uncertain.
Amidst a recent powerful snowstorm in southwestern Kazakhstan, numerous young seal pups have been discovered wandering on the arid Kazakh steppe near the Caspian Sea. Andrei Rucki, a representative from the Mangystau Region fisheries inspection, reported that these pups, typically reliant on their mothers near the ice at this age, may have been swept inland by strong winds. Instances of seals being displaced due to extreme weather are not uncommon.
Ecologist Adilbek Kozybakov proposed an additional factor contributing to the seals’ disorientation. He noted that the visual blending of the ice-covered sea with the snow-covered shore may have made it challenging for the pups to differentiate between land and water. Initially, only a handful of stranded seals were noted, but the number has since escalated, leaving the exact cause of their stranding ambiguous.
The harsh blizzard not only impacted the seals but also rendered roads impassable for an extended period, disrupting oilfield operations in the region. Coverage from the Kazakh news outlet Zakon emphasizes the uncertainty surrounding the total number of stranded seals and those that have been rescued, with reports continuing to surface.
The Caspian nerpa, the only seal species endemic to the Caspian Sea, has been facing significant challenges in its population due to factors such as poaching, pollution, diminishing water levels, and habitat destruction. Mangystau, known as one of Kazakhstan’s most industrialized areas, serves as a major center for oil and gas production while being home to a population of fewer than 800,000 across its expansive area of 165,000 square kilometers, which is twice the size of Poland.
The stranding of young seal pups in southwestern Kazakhstan following a severe snowstorm raises environmental concerns regarding their habitat and survival. Challenges such as the blending seascape, rapid weather changes, and existing pressure on the Caspian nerpa population due to human activities necessitate urgent attention. Continued monitoring and potential rescue efforts are essential to address this troubling situation, reinforcing the need for environmental awareness in the region.
Original Source: tvpworld.com
