Kazakhstan moves to protect endangered Caspian seals

New nature reserve planned as seal deaths and shrinking sea raise alarm

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) – Kazakhstan is set to establish a dedicated nature reserve to protect the endangered Caspian seal as the species faces mounting threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

The decision comes in response to a troubling environmental crisis. Between October and November 2024, nearly 2,000 dead seals were found along the shores of Kazakhstan’s Mangistau region, triggering concerns over pollution, disease, and warming waters.

Scientists have yet to determine the exact cause of the mass die-off, but experts point to a combination of human and natural factors.

Compounding the crisis, the Caspian Sea has been rapidly shrinking, losing around 25 centimeters of water per year since 2006. In total, it has contracted by 22,000 square kilometers since 2000, significantly reducing the seals’ breeding grounds.

Once numbering over a million, the Caspian seal population has dwindled to just 70,000, pushing it to the brink of extinction.

During a high-level roundtable in Astana, government officials and environmental experts emphasized the urgent need for conservation efforts.

Zulfiya Suleimenova, Kazakhstan’s Special Representative for International Environmental Cooperation, announced plans for a scientific research institute focused on the Caspian Sea.

She also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to marine conservation, stressing that additional projects are under discussion.

The upcoming nature reserve is expected to secure key breeding sites, restrict harmful industrial activities, and strengthen protective measures against environmental degradation.

However, conservationists warn that long-term solutions will require regional cooperation, stricter environmental policies, and extensive habitat restoration to ensure the species’ survival.