“The examined dead animals are represented by adults.
The main working hypothesis at present is the death of the Caspian seals as a result of a significant release of natural gas (methane-propane-butane mixture with an admixture of hydrogen sulfide)," TASS quoted the message as saying.
The audit materials were sent to the investigative department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Dagestan for a criminal-legal assessment.
In early December 2022, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of Dagestan reported that the number of dead seals found in the region had increased to 2.5 thousand.