Russia's War: Thousands of Dolphins Dead in the Black Sea

Conservationists are linking the deaths of thousands of dolphins in the Black Sea to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

At least 3,000 animals have perished, explained Ivan Rusev, an expert at a national park near Odessa in southern Ukraine.

Loud explosions and military sonar used to locate other vessels are disorienting the dolphins, which also rely on sonar for navigation. «They then have difficulty finding food or become lost in shallow water«, Rusev continued. For him, the conclusion is clear: «The animals are dying as a result of Russian military actions in the Black Sea.» Russian media, however, want nothing to do with this: a researcher is quoted there as saying that the number of animals found so far remains «within the range of annual statistics».

According to Rusev, there are also reports of dead animals from Bulgaria and Romania. «We urge anyone who sees dead dolphins on the beach to report it.» In recent years, fishing and poaching had posed the greatest threats to dolphins.

The broader impact of the war on nature and the environment is currently being investigated by a group of scientists commissioned by the Ukrainian Ministry of the Environment. In addition to sonar and explosions, the leaking of toxic rocket and ship fuels poses a further threat to aquatic ecosystems, explains Pavlo Gol'din, a zoologist at the Schmalhausen Institute in Kyiv and member of the research team.

Researchers also fear that the war could massively damage biodiversity on land. Many natural habitats have already been destroyed by fires and bombardment. «The coastal wetlands in particular — an important refuge for many bird species — are under threat«, says Gol´din. A prime example of this is the region along the Sea of Azov, northeast of the Crimean Peninsula. It is considered a breeding ground for geese, divers, terns, and ducks. Their range and migration corridor leads from there toward the northwest, along the Dnieper River to north of Kyiv and the border with Russia — and thus once again into contested territory. It is conceivable that the war is having an impact on the breeding behavior, species composition, or migration of these animals — but this is currently impossible to research.

In order to ensure that environmental and animal protection remain possible even in times of war, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), an internationally operating animal welfare organization headquartered in Canada, recently called for a legal framework to be established at the international level. In addition, it argued that “ecocide” must be added to the statutes of the International Criminal Court as a further criminal offense in the context of war.

In a study, the IFAW also warns of an additional threat to wildlife in Ukraine that is particularly well known from conflict zones on the African continent: poaching. According to the organization, uncontrolled possession of weapons and fighters’ need for food and money regularly lead to increased hunting of animals. This is yet another item on a seemingly endless list of feared consequences of the war for nature and wildlife in Ukraine.

Russia began its war against Ukraine on 24 February and is also attacking the neighboring country via the Black Sea.