Reuters AlertNet Lite - Hundreds of dead seals found in Kazakhstan

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Hundreds of dead seals found in Kazakhstan

18 Apr 2007 05:58:17 GMT
Source: Reuters

ALMATY, April 18 (Reuters) - Hundreds of dead seals, most of them pups, have been found on the Caspian Sea coast of western Kazakhstan but the cause of their death was unclear, the Emergencies Ministry said on Wednesday.

A ministry spokesman said about the bodies of 500 seals have been washed up on the coast of Kazakhstan's Mangystau region since late March.

"About 50 of them are grown-up seals but the rest are pups," the spokesman said. "It's too early to say what caused their deaths. A special commission is working there to establish the cause."

The Kazakhstan Today news agency reported the seals could have died of plague infection.

More than 10,000 seals died in 2000 because of chronic intoxication, media reported.

Kazakhstan's section of the Caspian Sea is home to a number of big oil and gas deposits including Kashagan, the world's largest oil discovery in the last 30 years.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Kazakhstan profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Christian Aid joins green.tv
Christian Aid - UK

• Christian Aid comment on 5 April Gleneagles event
Christian Aid - UK

• Governments must invest to help poor people adapt to climate change
CARE International - UK

• Beware of hidden strings on EU's offer on trade
Christian Aid - UK

• World Tuberculosis Day: Red Cross Red Crescent programmes play key role in global tuberculosis control
IFRC - Switzerland

MORE >>

Latest news

• Hundreds of dead seals found in Kazakhstan

• Cigarette prices to rise in Kazakhstan-to 32 cents

• TURKMENISTAN: President pushes ahead with education and agricultural reform

• TAJIKISTAN: Earthquake and avalanches hit the country

• Amnesty urges EU to raise rights in C.Asia talks

MORE >>

Last updated:Wed Apr 18 05:58:12 2007