For the first time in a long while, the sea washed a dolphin ashore in the Mykolaiv region

Near the resort village of Rybakivka in the Mykolaiv region, the sea washed a common dolphin ashore for the first time in a long while. The animal was in extremely critical condition and died almost immediately after it was discovered.

According to the organization “Dolphins of the Azov Sea,” the dolphin was severely emaciated. The exact cause of death could not be determined, but the animal’s condition may indicate an illness or injury that had persisted for at least several days.

Ivan Rusev, an ecologist and head of the research department at the “Tuzly Estuaries” National Nature Park, Ivan Rusev noted that over the past five days, the sea has washed up seven more dead cetaceans along the Black Sea coast from Mykolaiv to the village of Primorske in the Izmail District.

In particular, a dead Azov porpoise was found on the coast of the Odesa region.

According to Rusev, the deaths of cetaceans in the Black Sea are largely linked to the consequences of the war. Three species of cetaceans inhabit Ukrainian waters: the bottlenose dolphin, the white-beaked dolphin, and the Azov porpoise. All of them are listed in Ukraine’s Red Book.

<picture></picture>Photo: Ivan Rusev/Facebook

Military operations pose a particular threat to marine mammals. Among the dangerous factors, the ecologist cites acoustic trauma, which disrupts dolphins’ navigation, explosions, sea mine detonations, noise from missile launches, and chemical pollution of the water.

TheTuzly Estuaries National Nature Park estimates that over 100,000 Black Sea cetaceans have died during the 4.5 years of full-scale war.

Environmentalists emphasize that such losses affect not only the populations of rare animals but also the entire marine ecosystem.

The first cases of cetacean deaths along the national park’s coast this year were recorded on May 23. Starting in early June, the sea began washing dead marine mammals ashore almost daily.

By June 30, ecologists had counted 58 dead cetaceans. During a survey of the coastline on July 24–27, two more animals were found. Thus, as of July 26, the number of recorded cases had risen to 81.

On August 7, the national park reported four more carcasses. The total number of dead cetaceans found at that time reached 85.

In the latest episode of “Accents,” ecologist and zoologist Pavlo Goldin and biologist Vladislav Balinsky, head of the nonprofit organization “Green Leaf,” discussed the causes of the mass deaths of dolphins and other marine mammals in the Black Sea. Vladislav Balinsky. 

Ірина Глухова