Numbers of scientists said that the Russia-Ukraine war is the primary factor responsible for rising dolphin deaths in the Black Sea. Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine involves, among other things, unprecedented destruction of the environment.
The role of armed conflicts in damaging the environment, plants, and animals has been addressed more than once in the global sphere. Therefore, the residents of the Black Sea are facing the consequences of the Russian invaders’ actions.
What’s Killing the Black Sea Dolphins?
Marine biologists pay attention to the fact that since the start of the war in Ukraine in the Black Sea more and more instances of dolphins’ death and washing ashore have occurred. Reports of the dolphin deaths are not only from Ukraine and Russia but also from Romania, Turkey, and other countries.
Overall, as reported by dolphin rescue centers, since the start of this year, number of animals have been discovered dead in the Black Sea and along its shores. In certain areas, these numbers have already exceeded those of the full past year.
Key Reasons Which Are Responsible for Dolphin Deaths in the Black Sea
The Black Sea is habitat of three cetaceans’ species which are the Azov dolphin, the white-tailed dolphin, and the bottlenose dolphin. Prior to the Russia-Ukraine war, Dolphins were perishing after becoming entrapped in fishing or poaching nets in the Black Sea’s northwestern part, which totaled as much as three thousand kilometers.
Previously it was possible to ascertain that the dolphins were murdered by poaching – they had their fins sliced off or there was evidence of nets on their bodies – but since the war started the dolphins have not been damaged externally.
Ivan Rus who is a biologist and scientific department chief at the natural park “Tuzlovskie Limans” explained that submarines which were drew near to their coasts at a distance of 200 meters had deployed quadcopters during night and also employed sonars. Thus, inner ear of dolphins has been severely damaged because of their strong signals, they suffer acoustic trauma and lose their direction.
It is challenging for dolphins to search for food when their echo-location system is completely damaged. Dolphins must consume 30 kilograms of fish per day. If they do not find any fish to eat, the dolphin goes underweight and loses immunity and starts to become ill.
Ukrainian scientists have also discovered dolphins on the shore which are charred by a mine explosion in the distance, because those that fall, perish instantly. As said by the experts of dolphin protection, a dolphin would stumble only over a mine if it were hit by something, a healthy animal would have avoided it.
There were also strong sea bombardments at the time of de-occupation, the shocks of which were even felt by individuals on shore. Ivan Rusev added that when a bomb drops into the ocean, dolphins, being extremely sensitive animals, would immediately rise to the top of the water and develop bends like scuba divers.
This might result in myocardial infarction in them. The scientists of Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania had also reported the dolphin deaths in large scale. The scientist in Romania have determined that the majority of the dolphins died due to inner ear lesion. Scientists report that cases, wherein dolphins on the beach are alive, have become more frequent. That is, they themselves are washed ashore and it all began last March.
The prominent scientist of the Shmalghausen Institute of Zoology, doctor of biological sciences Pavel Goldina is confident that at this time it is not possible to talk about the causes of dolphins’ death. Scientists discuss a number of possible causes.
Infectious diseases are one of them. Infectious disease that is caused by microorganisms that penetrate the ocean in consequence of the destruction of agricultural buildings, for example, livestock farms. Severe poisoning from chemical substances in munitions that have found their way into the ocean can also be a cause of dolphins’ death.
Acoustic trauma is also one of the key reason because of which dolphins are dying rapidly. According to scientists, here it is quite simply the result of the Russia-Ukraine war actions and submarines. A hydro-biologist said that Russia’s radars work on the same frequencies on which dolphins hear their ultrasonic echolocation signals.
Due to this, dolphins can suffer hemorrhages, just as a human does in a stroke. And it can be the key reason for their death. But, naturally, the dolphins’ deaths in large scale does not preclude the simultaneous action of a number of factors. In the event, for instance, that simultaneously there is running some infection, intoxications and acoustic traumas take place.
How Much Time Will Be Taken for Restoring the Dolphin Population Again in the Black Sea?
Following the war, an extensive dolphin breeding reserve is required. According to scientists, it is necessary to establish an extensive marine reservation on 3000 square kilometers in the Ukrainian territorial waters close to Snake Island to protect dolphins so that they naturally restored their numbers. Dolphin reproduction is a lengthy process.
For, after all, they give birth to one or two offspring per year, and there is only one calf born. And during the time of stress dolphins practically do not breed: an aphaline produces one calf every 2-3 years. Thus, the restoration of dolphin population will require several years under the protection of scientists and in a sanctuary that is away from ships and poachers.
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