Dozens of seal pups have been found wandering the barren steppe near the Caspian Sea, after being stranded by a powerful snowstorm in southwestern Kazakhstan.
The young seals, some spotted near temporary oilfield housing estates, were likely swept ashore and disoriented by the storm, preventing them from returning to the sea, experts say.
“These are young seals, just a few months old. At this age, they typically stay close to their mothers near the ice,” said Andrei Rucki from the Mangystau Region fisheries inspection. “It is possible that strong winds carried them inland. Such incidents are not uncommon.”
Ecologist Adilbek Kozybakov suggested another possible cause: the ice-covered sea blending with the snow-covered shoreline, making it difficult for the pups to distinguish land from water. “Initially, only a few were reported, but now we are seeing dozens. The exact cause remains unclear,” he added.
The severe blizzard, which made roads impassable for days, also disrupted oilfield operations in the region.
According to Kazakh news outlet Zakon, it remains unclear how many seals are stranded or have been rescued, as reports continue to emerge.
The Caspian nerpa, the only seal species native to the Caspian Sea, has faced a sharp population decline due to poaching, pollution, shrinking water levels, and habitat destruction.
Mangystau, one of Kazakhstan’s most developed regions, is a major hub for oil and gas production.
Covering 165,000 square kilometers—twice the size of Poland—the region is home to fewer than 800,000 people.
“These are young seals, just a few months old. At this age, they typically stay close to their mothers near the ice,” said Andrei Rucki from the Mangystau Region fisheries inspection. “It is possible that strong winds carried them inland. Such incidents are not uncommon.”
Ecologist Adilbek Kozybakov suggested another possible cause: the ice-covered sea blending with the snow-covered shoreline, making it difficult for the pups to distinguish land from water. “Initially, only a few were reported, but now we are seeing dozens. The exact cause remains unclear,” he added.
The severe blizzard, which made roads impassable for days, also disrupted oilfield operations in the region.
According to Kazakh news outlet Zakon, it remains unclear how many seals are stranded or have been rescued, as reports continue to emerge.
The Caspian nerpa, the only seal species native to the Caspian Sea, has faced a sharp population decline due to poaching, pollution, shrinking water levels, and habitat destruction.
Mangystau, one of Kazakhstan’s most developed regions, is a major hub for oil and gas production.
Covering 165,000 square kilometers—twice the size of Poland—the region is home to fewer than 800,000 people.
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