Doctor of Science of Ukraine noted on October 21, 2022, that probably up to 50 thousand dolphins had died in the Black Sea due to the actions of the Russian troops since the beginning of the full-scale war.
Source: Doctor of Science of Ukraine and head of research department in National Nature Park “Tuzlivski Lymany”, Ivan Rusev
The main reason for the death of dolphins is the use of sonars by Russian ships. Many warships maneuver in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, including submarines, which sometimes approach the shore at a distance of about 100 meters.
“All these surface and submarine boats produced very powerful sound signals which affect the dolphins. All cetaceans, both whales and dolphins, use a single powerful echolocation device. They spend almost 60% of their energy on echolocation, returning and receiving a signal. Therefore, when the high-frequency device works, it completely destroys the inner ear of dolphins and cetaceans. The dolphin also loses its ability to navigate through space. It can’t find any objects and can stumble upon landmines, as it becomes blind,” noted Ivan Rusev.
According to the Doctor of Science of Ukraine, 2500 carcasses of mammals were found on the coast of Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania. However, according to international studies, only 5% of dead dolphins are washed ashore. Before the war, they were found on average three times a year, this year only from March to July, 44 dead mammals were found on the territory of the “Tuzlivski Lymany” National Park.
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