INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
the only place on earth that is home to the Caspian seal, a species whose numbers have drastically shrunk in recent decades due to
environmental degradation.If no additional measures are taken, scientists estimate that the species could go extinct within two decades.In
commendable, but it is followed by yet more talks about counts and continued observations rather than direct actions to protect the
species," Arseny Philippov, president of the Nativus International Association for Biodiversity Conservation, told The Moscow Times.A dead
Caspian seal washed ashore the Caspian Sea in Dagestan.Musa Salgereyev / TASSListed as an endangered species by the International Union for
20th century.Environmentalists have previously voiced frustration over a lack of robust conservation measures such as establishing a network
international expert in marine mammal conservation told The Moscow Times.This expert spoke on condition of anonymity due to the risks of
longer officially organized commercial hunting, there is very high bycatch of seals in illegal fishing gear set for sturgeon poaching,
including petroleum products, pesticides, mercury, lead, arsenic and phenol.As a result of these combined negative factors, scientists have
several ways.One significant effect is the reduction or early melting of winter ice cover, a crucial breeding ground for Caspian
seals.Climate change is also expected to increase evaporation over the Caspian Sea, leading to a sea level decline of about eight to 14
alarming decline of Caspian seals and the looming threat of climate change, experts offer some reasons for optimism.One encouraging sign is
A notable example is the Northern Elephant seal, which bounced back from just a few dozen individuals in the late 19th century to a
population of several hundred thousand today
In Europe, gray and harbor seal populations have also rebounded following bans on hunting and reductions in pollution.Caspian seals may even
have the ability to adapt to climate change
Having lived in the Caspian Sea for at least 1 million years, they have already survived several past climate shifts.Caspian seal
creation of a nature reserve can provide a chance to save the species
expert also highlighted the need to develop alternative livelihoods for fishing communities in regions like Dagestan so that people will not
have to resort to illegal fishing that causes seal bycatch.International organizations can bolster national conservation efforts, while
that is in the hands of people now
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