Sochi: At least 32 dolphins have died from a fuel oil spill in Russia’s Black Sea since December 15, a local animal rescue group reported Sunday. The Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Center disclosed that it had discovered 61 dead cetaceans since an emergency was declared, with 32 fatalities likely attributed to the fuel oil spill and the remainder believed to be connected to older incidents. A regional emergency regime was declared in the area on Saturday.
According to Anadolu Agency, most of the deaths occurred within 10 days of the disaster, predominantly affecting vulnerable Azov dolphins. The center noted that the number of deaths outside the typical release season is unusually high. The center issued a warning about the potential increase in injured dolphins in the upcoming months and unveiled plans to establish a hospital for long-term care. The facility is deemed essential as providing assistance to dolphins directly in shallow, oil-contaminated waters is impossible.
Separately, Russia’s Emergency Ministry reported the removal of over 12,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil from 34 kilometers (21 miles) of coastline in Krasnodar Krai. This cleanup followed a tanker collision in the Kerch Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov between Russia and occupied Crimea.