Russia-Ukraine war may be causing surge in dolphin deaths in Black Sea, say scientists

Scientists have suggested that a recent increase in deaths of dolphins in Black Sea might have been caused due to ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Researchers think that rise in noise pollution in norrn Black Sea caused by around 20 Russian navy vessels and ongoing military activities could have resulted in cetaceans moving south to Turkish and Bulgarian shores,  Guardian reported. dolphins near Turkish and Bulgarian shores could have been stranded or entangled in fishing nets in large numbers. 

Since Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, Turkey has reported an increase in common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) stranded across its Black Sea coast. Over 80 dolphins have been reportedly found de across Turkey's western Black Sea. Turkish Marine Research Foundation (Tudav) has labelled deaths of more than 80 dolphins “an extraordinary increase”. Turkish Marine Research Foundation (Tudav) in initial investigation found that around half of dolphins were killed after being caught in fishing nets, as per Guardian report. researchers, however, have not been able to reveal cause of death of or dolphins as no signs of entanglement or gunshot wounds have been found on carcasses.

'Acoustic trauma' can be a cause for dolphin's death, says scientists

Dr Bayram Ozturk, chair of Tudav, has suggested that "acoustic trauma" might have caused death of dolphins. As per news report, marine mammals rely on sound for communication and or functions, and underwater noise can have serious, even fatal, effects on cetaceans. Dr Pavel Gol’din, a researcher at Ukraine’s National Acemy of Sciences, said that acoustic trauma might describe strandings, and underwater noise caused by military rate. Dr Gol'din ded that underwater noise might not be directly responsible for deaths of dolphins, as per Guardian report. However, y could move to unfamiliar territories to avoid noise and it could be reason behind "mass migration of fish and cetacean stocks to south."

Russia-Ukraine War 

It is pertinent to mention here that Russia, on February 24, initiated a “special” operation in Ukraine after Russian President Vlimir Putin signed a decree recognising independence of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Since n, deaths and destruction have been reported in Ukraine due to ongoing hostilities between two warring nations. According to UNHCR, more than 5.9 million people have left Ukraine and moved to neighbouring countries to escape war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an dress to Parliament of Malta on May 10, has said that thousands of ults have been killed and 226 children have died due to Russian invasion of Ukraine. He ded that se are numbers that have been officially recorded. 

Image: Unsplash/Representative