He stated 30,000 birds have died since December 2024 following an oil spill attributable to two Russian tankers within the Black Sea’s Kerch Strait.
Rusev additionally blamed Russian drones for spooking flamingos, forcing them to desert their nests and giving gulls the chance to decimate final 12 months’s colony.
“Drones, they keep (for) one or two minutes however throughout this era, very aggressive gulls, like yellow-legged gulls, come to this colony and destroy all of the nests,” he stated. “400 nests have been destroyed absolutely by these gulls.”
Rusev added that whereas drones and missiles pose a menace from the air, mines and sonar are harming sea life.
The scientist stated it’s hectic to work when there may be ongoing bombing.
“We noticed so many dolphins, lifeless dolphins on the shoreline,” stated Rusev, including that dolphin carcasses have change into an more and more widespread sight alongside the Black Coastline.
Researchers estimate that no less than 80,000 dolphins within the Black Sea have died as a direct results of the battle.
The loss of life of such marine life is only one instance of what park researchers name environmental battle crimes dedicated by Moscow.
