Massive bird kill on Shalyga island of the Caspian Sea

ASTANA. June 25. KAZINFORM - In Atyrau on sandy island Shalyga in the Caspian Sea, located about 30 kilometers from the coast, there has been registered a mass death of birds. The same distance separates the island from the Kashagan field, which is completing preparations for a pilot oil production. The death of birds has been confirmed by environmental prosecutor of the Atyrau region Kairat Uteuliev.

"According to preliminary data one can say about at least 1,200 gulls killed. Causes of death of birds are under investigation," says Uteuliev.

The fact is that there is no information about other species of birds among the killed gulls. Sandy islands in the sea are a native place of nesting for Caspian gulls, where on every meter there are several nests. At this time, gulls are suckling their young, hatched from their eggs.

Note: Last time mass death of birds in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea was recorded in October 2003. Then, by unknown reasons on an artificial island, from which the wells are being drilled in the Kashagan field, there was killing of migratory birds - larks, finches, bluethroats and quails. Agip KCO voluntarily paid out a half million tenge (USD 10 000) as compensation for the dead birds.