Over 30 Endangered Dolphins Perish Due to Oil Spill in Russia’s Kerch Strait
Tragic environmental incident, more than 30 dolphins have been found dead on beaches following a significant oil spill in southern Russia. The spill occurred in the Kerch Strait, which separates the Crimea Peninsula from Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, when fuel oil leaked from two storm-stricken tankers approximately three weeks ago.
The Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Center reported that the majority of the deceased dolphins were from the endangered Azov species, highlighting the severe ecological impact of the spill. The center noted on the messaging app Telegram that while a total of 61 dead cetaceans have been recorded since the spill, the conditions of the bodies suggested that 29 of these may have died before the incident. However, the marine life casualties directly linked to the oil spill are a distressing 32 dolphins.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the spill as an “ecological disaster,” prompting a regional emergency declaration in Sevastopol, Crimea, where oil was detected on the shores. Cleanup efforts have been extensive, with over 96,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil removed by officials and volunteers along the Anapa and Temryuk districts’ shorelines in Krasnodar Krai.
The incident has sparked international concern, with Ukrainian officials like Mykhailo Podolyak calling it a “large-scale environmental disaster” and advocating for sanctions on Russian tankers. The ecological ramifications of this spill are expected to be long-lasting, affecting not just the marine fauna but also the broader ecosystem of the Black Sea region.
