Dead dolphins found on Odesa coast

Dead dolphins found on Odesa coast

A small white-sided dolphin washed up on the coast of the Tuzlivski Lymany National Nature Park, located in Odesa region. A dead bottlenose dolphin was also found in Gribovka, not far from the national park.

The reason for their death is linked to the Russian fleet, said Ivan Rusyev, head of the research department of the Tuzlivski Lymany.

"As a result of the enemy’s actions, not only people suffer, but the most intelligent creatures of the Black Sea - dolphins - continue to die," he noted.

According to Rusyev, there have also been previous cases of dolphins being washed up on the shores of the Black Sea in Bulgaria and on the coast of the Sea of Azov.

The main reason for their deaths may be hydrolocators or sonars - devices that detect underwater objects using acoustic radiation, installed on some Russian ships near Novorosiysk and occupied Crimea.

Sonars generate powerful waves that have a negative impact on the health of animals. Therefore, dolphins suffer acoustic injuries - when they get into the radiation zone of ships’ navigation devices, their navigation and echolocation organs suffer.

"When the navigation and hearing organs are damaged, dolphins cannot use echolocation, that is, they become effectively "blind." Having lost their orientation, the animals lose acoustic control over the environment.

"Blind" dolphins experience stress and panic, and cannot adapt to space. Therefore, they encounter various obstacles, including mines, and can end up on rocks," Ivan Rusev explained.

Also, the affected dolphins cannot catch fish, quickly get tired, lose immunity and become vulnerable to infections. In particular, we are talking about infection with morbilliviruses - a group of viruses that can cause respiratory infections.

It is also possible that sonar waves and bombardments during a sharp rise to the surface can cause gas embolism in dolphins, which leads to foaming of the blood and destruction of cell walls and blood vessels, blocking blood flow.

"Only the liquidation of the Russian fleet will give the dolphins a chance for relief," the scientist added.