Without specifying the reason... 1,700 dead seals were found on a Russian beach

1,700 endangered seals were found dead on the coast of the Caspian Sea in Dagestan, Russia.

According to local authorities, the cause of death has not yet been determined, and the number of dead animals is likely to increase.

Specialists of the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency and the Environmental Prosecutor's Office are inspecting the coast and continue to collect data for laboratory research.

Officials initially said yesterday that 700 dead seals had been found on the coast, but Zaur Gabezov, head of the Caspian Sea Environmental Protection Center, announced Sunday that after a wider inspection of the coast, the number of dead animals had risen to 1,700, according to a news agency. State RIA Novosti.

Gabisov said the seals likely died two weeks ago.

He added that there was no indication that they were killed by hunters.

Research by experts from the Federal Fisheries Agency and prosecutors who examined the coast and collected data for laboratory research did not immediately detect any pollutants.

Many previous incidents of mass deaths of sea seals have been attributed to natural causes.

Data on the number of seals in the Caspian Sea varies widely.

The Fisheries Agency said the total number of Caspian seals ranged between 270,000 and 300,000, while the head of the Caspian Sea Environmental Protection Center estimated the number at 70,000.