Ecologists report deaths of more than 40,000 Caspian seals

At least 40,000 Caspian seals have died in recent years across all five Caspian littoral states.

According to Report, citing the press service of the Compass National Environmental Foundation, the conclusion was reached by a scientific research group based on preliminary findings.

According to the foundation, the average age of the dead seals was 7.7 years, nearly five times lower than the figure recorded in the late 1990s. Scientists note that seals typically reach sexual maturity and begin reproducing at around this age.

Researchers said that the majority of the dead animals were of reproductive age, posing a serious threat to the recovery of the species' population.

In response, Russian environmentalists have proposed holding a dedicated meeting of the relevant commission on the conservation of the Caspian seal. According to experts, the current population of this endemic species of the Caspian Sea is estimated at around 300,000 individuals.