German public broadcaster films dolphin deaths in Odesa region

A film crew from the German TV channel ZDF has arrived at the National Nature Park on the Black Sea coast to document the environmental consequences of Russian aggression. Together with scientists, the journalists inspected the coast, where about 40 dead dolphins and other cetaceans have been found in recent days.

This was reported by environmentalist Ivan Rusev.

A film crew from the ZDF heute news program led by journalist Dara Hassanzadeh arrived at the Tuzly Estuaries National Park. ZDF is Germany's second public broadcaster and one of the country's most popular TV channels.

The death of dolphins in the Odesa region. PHOTO: Ivan Rusev/Facebook

While working in the national park, the journalists and scientists re-examined the sea coast in search of dead dolphins. According to Ivan Rusev, in the last few days alone, about 40 bodies of rare cetaceans have been found in the park.

According to the ecologist, the fact that most of the remains are rapidly disappearing is of particular concern.

Journalists in the national park. PHOTO: Ivan Rusev/Facebook

In three days after the first fixation, about 80% of the bodies of dead animals disappeared from the sandy mound. They were washed away by the sea or pulled away by wild animals.

If we had not recorded them immediately, we would have lost important evidence of ecocide and Russian crimes against the environment," the ecologist emphasized.

During the new survey, researchers and journalists found another large aphaline weighing more than 150 kilograms and about 2.5 meters long. This moment became one of the key episodes of the future television story.

Journalists in the national park. PHOTO: Ivan Rusev/Facebook

The ecologist noted that the work on the coast was not easy. The team had to overcome about 25 kilometers of sandy embankment, where even the crew's SUV repeatedly got stuck in the sand. Despite the difficult conditions, the journalists continued filming to show millions of viewers in Germany the real consequences of the war for the wildlife of Ukraine.

On June 6-7, employees of the Tuzly Estuaries National Nature Park found 15 dead dolphins while inspecting 12 kilometers of the park's coastline. Earlier, on June 5, 22 dead dolphins were found on the coast.

Анна Бальчінос